Annual climbers which mean "to bite" in Latin are widely cultivated in India. Useful in dreaded diseases such as diabetes, colic fever, rheumatism, kidney stones, etc.

1. Bitter gourd
Momordica charantia L.
A boon to
Human being on the globe
Presented by
Dr. Sudhakar Kokate
Director PPRC, India

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3.  Family: Cucurbitaceae
 Momordica : a genus of 42 species
 Annual climbers
 It grows in tropical countries Africa, Asia, Amazon,
South America
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4.  Name from Latin meaning : “to bite”
 Some species: Momordica widely cultivated in India.
 Recorded species : 5
 Species : M. balsamia
M. charantia
M. cochinchinensis spreng.
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5.  To enhance beta cells (Ahmed et. al. 1998)
 To promote insulin release (Welihinda et. al. 1986)
 To increase glucose utilization in the Liver and Muscle
(Sarkar et. al. 1996)
 Ability to inhibit cell growth, guanylate cyclase
activity & ribosomal activity(West et. al. 1973)
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6.  Inhibition of G-6-P, F-6-P in Liver stimulation of red
cell and hepatic G-6-P dehydrogenase (Shibib et. al.
1993)
 To inhibit glucose transportat the brush border of the
small intestine(Matsuda et. al. 1998)
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8.  Fruits are tonic, stomachic, carminative and cooling
 Useful in diseases such as:
* Diabetes mellitus
* Gout and other diseases of the liver & spleen
* Colic and fever
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9. * Wounds
* Management of worms
* Management of parasites
* Measles & hepatitis
* Peptic ulcer
* Contraceptive
* Rheumatism
* Jaundice
* Kidney stones
* Piles
* Malaria
* Eczema
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11.  Also known as ……… bitter cucumber
bittermelon
balsam pear
karela
 A monoecious climber, stem slender, leaves sub -
orbicular, flowers – yellow, fruits – 5 – 25 cm
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12.  Pendulous fusiform beaked ribbed with numerous
tubercles, brown seeds 13 – 16 mm long compressed,
embedded in red pulp
 Plant cultivated as Vegetable crop
 Two types: hot season – Jethuya
rainy season – Baramasiya
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13.  Bitter melon has a long history of use as a
hypoglycaemic agent in Asia, Africa, Latin America
where plant extract considered as vegetable insulin
which appears to have structural similarities to
animal insulin (Dr. Ethan et. al. 2003)
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15.  Seed: A clear, reddish brown oil yield …. 26.5 %
 Fatty acid of oil: alpha-elacostearic acid …. 46.7 %
linoleic …. 7.7 %, oleic …. 15.8 %
stearic …. 29.8 %
 Seed cake: 13.4 % totalproteins containing ……..
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16.  Albumin …. 6.1 %
 ɑ globulin …. 6.1 %
 Glutelin …. 1.2 %
 Seed also contains an alkaloid &an anti-helminthic
principle in the germ. They also contain urease
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17.  Fruit: Moisture …. 83.2 %
Protein…. 2.9 %
Fat …. 1.0 %
Carbohydrates …. 9.8 %
Fibre …. 1.7 %
Mineral matter …. 1.4 %
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18.  Fruit: Calcium …. 50 mg / 100 g
Phosphorus …. 140 mg / 100 g
Iron …. 9.4 mg / 100 g
Carotene(Vit A) …. 210 i.u.
Thiamine …. 72 mg
Nicolinic acid …. 0.5 mg
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19. * Anti-diabetic
* Anti-cancer
* Anti-viral
* Anti-oxidant
* Anti-obesity
* Anti-helminthic
* Immuno-modulatory
* Hepato-renal
* Hypolipidemic
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20. * Glycosides
* Saponins
* Alkaloids
* Fixed oils
* Triterpenes
* Protein
* Steroids
* Kara compounds
* Vitamin C
* Vitamin A
* Phosphorus
* Iron
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21. * Inulinomimitic lectins
* Charantin
* Steroidalglycosides
* Oleanolic acid 3-0-monodesmoside
* Oleanolic acid 3-0-glucuronide
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22. Bitter gourd recipes
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23. * Masala Bharwan karela
* Bittergourd curry
* Bittergourd pitlai
* Karela bhindi masala
* Karela chips
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29. * Karela rice
* Khatta meetha karela
* Yammy karela
* Green glow
* Hot karela achaar
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30. * Fried karela boat
* Crispy bittergourd
* Stuffed karela in makhani gravy
* Chatpati bittergourd bhujia
* Karela mussalam
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35.  Wash karela fruit under running water
 Slice with knife and scoop out the seeds & white
flesh
 Make small cubes with knife
 Put all cubes in blender with some water
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36.  Sieve juice through wire mesh
 Early morning drink this green juice (50 – 100 ml) on
empty stomach
 Use honey, black pepper, chaat masala if required
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38.  Lowers blood glucose due to chemical “charantin”
 It purifies blood, curing blood boils, itching due to
blood poisoning
 Being high in fibre prevents constipationand many
stomach disorders
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39.  To lose body weight
 For curing pile, a painful disease
 To treat cholera in early stage
 To strengthen the immune system
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40.  To alleviate eye problems and improve eyesight
 In Africa, Asia Karela fruit is used against
gastrointestinaldisorders
 Leaves juice is helpful in Jaundice, Malaria
 R & D proves that Karela may be useful in solving
leukemia problems
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41. Thank You!!