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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.
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