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Family Cucurbitaceae
Ampalaya
Momordica charantia Linn.

BITTER GOURD / BITTER MELON

Other scientific names Common names  
Mormodica balsamina Blanco  Amargoso (Span.)  Palia (Bis., Bon., If.)
Mormodica cylindrica Blanco Ampalaya (Tag.) Pariu (Bik., Ilk., Sul.)
  Ampalia (Tag.) Pulia (Sub.)
  Apalaya (Tag.) Saligun (Sul.,)
  Apalia (Pamp.) Balsam apple, balsam pear (Engl.)
  Apape (Ibn.) African cucumber (Engl.)
  Apapet (Itn.) Tuberculated momordica (Engl.)
  Margoso (Tag.) Bitter gourd (Engl.)

Botany
A climbing vine with tendrils up to 20
centimeters long. Leaves heart-shaped, 5-10 cm in diameter, cut into 5-7 lobes. Male and female yellow flowers, about 15 mm long, long-stalked with pair of small leaflike bracts at middle or toward base of stalk. Fleshy green fruit, oblong with pointed ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when mature to release seeds. Seeds flat with ruminated margins.
     Probably of Asiatic origin. Year-round vegetable growing in various places from sea level to higher altitudes. Wild forms found in wastelands at low and medium altitudes. Propagation by seeds.

Distribution
Year-round vegetable, extensively cultivated in the Philippines for its bitter edible fruit.
Also found in open fields, thickets, and waste places. (See: Ampalayang ligaw)

Properties and constituents
• Considered astringent, antidiabetic, abortifacient, antirheumatic, contraceptive, galactagogue, parasiticide, anthelmintic, purgative, emetic, antipyretic, febrifuge, emmenagogue, cooling , tonic, vulnerary.
• Phytochemical study yielded alkaloids, glycosides, aglycone, tannin, sterol, phenol and protein.

Parts utilized
Leaves, roots and fruits.

Uses
Folkloric
Astringent powdered leaves or root decoction can be applied to hemorrhoids.
Leaf juice for cough and as a purgative and anthelminthic to expel intestinal parasites, and for healing wounds.
Seeds also used to expel worms.
Juice from fruit used for dysentery and chronic colitis.
The vine or the juice of leaves used as mild purgative for children.
In large doses, the fresh juice is a drastic purgative.
Decoction of roots and seeds used for urethral discharges.
Pounded leaves used for scalds.
Infusion of leaves or leaf juice used for fevers.
In Jamaica, leaf decoction or infusion is taken for colds, as laxative and blood cleanser. Warm tea infusions also used for toothaches and mouth infections. Also used as a bath/wash for skin eruptions and acne.
Used for eczema, malarial, gout, jaundice, abdominal pain, kidney (stone), leprosy, leucorrhea, piles, pneumonia, psoriasis, , rheumatism, fever and scabies.
In China, used as hypoglycemic and antidiabetic.
In Turkey, used for healing of cutaneous lesions and peptic ulcers.
Nutritional
The leaves and fruit - used as vegetables - are excellent sources of Vit B, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. It has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli and twice the calcium content of spinach. Characteristically bitter-tasting, slight soaking in salty water before cooking removes some of the bitter taste of the fruit.
Philippine News: Diabetes Mellitus
A Philippine herb that has recently gained international recognition for its possible benefits in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Despite its bitter taste, it has also become a popular nutritional drink for a boost of vim and vigor. In fact, the more bitter, the better, as it is believed that the bitterness is proportionate to its potency.
      Studies have suggested that ampalaya contains a hypoglycemic polypeptide, a plant insulin responsible for its blood sugar lowering effect. Other benefits suggested were body detoxification (including removal of nicotine), strengthening of the immune system and fertility regulation.
     It is increasingly recommended as an adjunct or supplement to traditional therapeutic regimens for diabetes mellitus.


Studies
Analgesic / Cholinomimetic:
A methanol leaf extract study of Mormodica charantia in rodents suggested cholinomimetic and analgesic activities.
Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties:
Adaptogenic properties are indicated by the delay in the appearance of cataracts, the secondary complications of diabetes and relief in neurological and other common symptoms even before the hypoglycemia occurred.
Anti-inflammatory / Membrane Stabilizing Property:
The study reports the anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of an aqueous extract of Mormodica charantia leaves in rats. The results suggest the anti-inflammatory activity may not be related to membrane-stabilization.
Antimicrobial:
Study on various extracts of Cassia tora, Calendula officinalis and Mormodica charantia showed activity against all tested bacteria, Staph aureus being more susceptible to the aqueous extracts.
Larvicidal:
Study showed M. charantia to have good larvicidal activity against three container breeding mosquitoes: An. stephensi, Cx quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti suggesting a potential for the fruit extracts use in potable waters against mosquito larvae.
Antidiabetic / Estrous Cyclicity Effect:
Study results suggest the antidiabetic potential of MC and AP could restore the impaired estrous cycle in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Antidiabetic / Saponins: Study showed the saponin constituents extracted from MC induced significant hypoglycemic activity in hyperglycemic and normal mice.
Anxiolytic / Antidepressant / Antiinflammatory: Study of methanol extract of dried leaves of MC showed significant anxiolytic activity and antidepressant and antiinflammatory activities.
Antidiabetic / Glucose Lowering: (1) A water soluble extract of the fruit significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in diabetic and after force-feeding in rats. Fried karela fruits consumed as daily dietary supplement produced a small but significant improvement in glucose tolerance. (2) An aqueous powder extract of the fresh unripe whole fruit reduced fasting glucose by 48% comparable to glibenclamide, a known synthetic drug. Testing showed no nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. As an edible vegetable, it presents a safe alternative to reducing blood glucose.
Anti-Ulcerogenic / Gastroprotective: An olive oil extract of M charantia showed ulcer inhibition a gastroprotective effect against indomethacin.
Phytochemicals: Study of chemical constituents of unmatured fruits yielded vincine, mycose, momordicoside A and momordicoside B.
Phytochemicals / Extract-Metformin Synergism: Study yielded alkaloids, glycosides, aglycone, tannin, sterol, phenol and protein. Use of the extract for pharmacologic interactions with half doses of metformin or glibenclamide or both in combination caused a decrease in blood sugar greater than that caused by full doses in a 7-day treatment study. Results suggest a synergism activity.
Antioxidant: Study of Momordica charantia fruit extract exerts a protection to AC-induced hyperammonemic rats against oxidative stress possibly through prevention or inhibition of the lipid peroxidative system by its antioxidant, hepatoprotective effect and maintenance of cellular integrity.



Other (Kitchen) Preparations
Steam ampalaya tops (upper four leaves) and eat half a cup twice daily. As a decoction, boil six tablespoons of finely chopped leaves in two glasses of water over low fire (for 15 minutes). Drink 1/3 cup, three times a day, 30 minutes before meals. Don't use aluminum pots (clay or enamel only).

Toxicity
None known.

Availability
Wild-crafted.
Perennial vegetable market produce.
Tablets (
Amargozin by Altermed / Pascual Laboratories) for diabetes. Recently, available in capsule formulation, Charagen Ampalaya. 


Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Pharmacological Screening of a Methanol Extract from Mormodica charantia in Rodents / Peter I. Aziba; Martins Ekor; A. A. Adedeji
(2)
Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: an experimental and clinical evaluation / SRIVASTAVA Y. (1) ; VENKATAKRISHNA-BHATT H. ; VERMA Y. ; VENKAIAH K. ; RAVAL B. H.
(3)
Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia in rats / Umukoro S1 and AshorobiRB2 / African Journal of Biomedical Research
(4)
Antibacterial activity of antipsoriatic herbs: Cassia tora, Momordica charantia and Calendula officinalis / International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products Vol. 1(3), pp. 20-28, Sep/Oct 2008
(5)
Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Momordica charantia: a review /
(6)
Mosquito larvicidal properties of Momordica charantia Linn / R.K. Singh, R.C. Dhiman & P.K. Mittal / J Vect Borne Dis 43, June 2006, pp. 88–91
(7)
Anti-diabetic potentials of Momordica charantia and Andrographis paniculata and their effects on estrous cyclicity of alloxan-induced diabetic rats / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.10.018 / Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol 105, Issues 1-2, 21 April 2006, Pages 196-200
(8)
Hypoglycaemic activity of saponin fraction extracted from Momordica charantia in PEG/salt aqueous two-phase systems / DOI: 10.1080/14786410802079675 / Natural Product Research, Volume 22, Issue 13 September 2008 , pages 1112 - 1119  
(9)
Anxiolytic, Antidepressant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Methanol Extract of Momordica Charantia Leaves / 1735-2657/08/71-43-47
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS / Copyright © 2006 by Razi Institute for Drug Research (RIDR) / IJPT 7:43-47, 2008

(10)
Improvement in glucose tolerance due to Momordica charantia (karela) / B A Leatherdale et al / Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981;282:1823-1824 (6 June) / doi:10.1136/bmj.282.6279.1823
(11)
Antihyperglycemic effects of three extracts from Momordica charantia / Jaspreet Virdi et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology • Volume 88, Issue 1, September 2003, Pages 107-111 / doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00184-3
(12)
Effects of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) on indomethacin-induced ulcer model in rats / Gunnur Ozbakis Dengiz and Nesrin Gursan / Turk J Gastroenterol 2005; 16 (2): 85-88
(13)
Study on chemical components of Momordica charantia / Xie, H et al / Zhong-Yao-Cai. 1998 Sep; 21(9): 458-9
(14)
PHYTOCHEMICAL DETERMINATION AND EXTRACTION OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA FRUIT AND ITS HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIATION OF ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC DRUGS IN DIABETES MELLITUS (NIDDM) / Abhishek Tongia et al / Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2004; 48 (2) : 241–244
(15)
Antioxidant Potential of Momordica charantia in Ammonium Chloride-induced Hyperammonemic Rats / A Justin Thenmozhi and P Subramanian / Oxford Journals Medicine Evidence-based Compl. and Alt. Medicine • eCAM Advance Access• DOI:10.1093/ecam/nep227


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