A comprehensive review on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) as a gold mine of functional bioactive components for therapeutic foods (2024)

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A comprehensive review on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) as a gold mine of functional bioactive components for therapeutic foods (2024)

FAQs

What is Momordica charantia good for? ›

M. charantia, otherwise known as bitter melon, karela, balsam pear, or bitter gourd, is a popular plant commonly used to treat diabetes-related conditions amongst the indigenous populations of Asia, South America, India, the Caribbean, and East Africa [3,16,17].

What bioactive compounds are found in Momordica charantia? ›

Several bioactive compounds of M. charantia fruit have been recorded in the literature; they are classified as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and more [18,19,20]. M. charantia contains triterpenoids [21,22,23,24], saponins [25,26,27], polypeptides [28], flavonoids [29], alkaloids [30] and sterols [23].

What bioactive compounds are present in bitter gourd? ›

ABSTARCT Bitter gourd is an important vegetable which has been used to control blood glucose levels. It possesses a unique set of biologically active components such as charantin, vicine and polypeptide-p that exhibit anti-oxidative and hypoglycaemic potential.

What are the proven benefits of bitter gourd? ›

The phenolic compounds in karela are a potentially excellent natural source of food antioxidants. Phenolic compounds might have the ability to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and the incidence of heart-related diseases and cancer. However, more research is required.

What are the side effects of bitter gourd? ›

Some of the risks and complications of bitter melon include: diarrhea, vomiting, and other intestinal issues. vagin*l bleeding, contractions, and abortion. dangerous lowering of blood sugar if taken with insulin.

What are the side effects of bitter melon supplements? ›

Bitter melon extracts are usually well tolerated, but side effects can include abdominal discomfort, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache and hypoglycemia. Rare but potentially severe adverse effects include severe hypoglycemia, coma and seizures.

What vitamins are in Momordica charantia? ›

Raw bitter gourd contains a variety of vitamins and minerals:
  • Vitamin A.
  • Vitamin C.
  • Calcium.
  • Iron.
  • Thiamine (B1)
  • Riboflavin (B2)
  • Niacin (B3)
  • Folate (B9)
Aug 31, 2022

What is the anti inflammatory effect of Momordica charantia? ›

Wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviate Seringe), a common vegetable in Asia, is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, including inflammation. Extant literature indicates that wild bitter gourds have components that activate PPARα and PPARγ.

What are bitter melon's benefits and disadvantages? ›

Bitter melon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which is also known as the gourd family. The benefits of bitter melon include that it helps control blood sugar, helps fight cancer, and helps fight cancer, but side effects may include indigestion and diarrhea. Bitter melon is a popular vine of the tropics.

Is bitter gourd good for the kidneys? ›

Bitter gourd juice is indeed good to drink for people with high creatinine and urea levels, but patients should also pay attention to one point that is the amount of bitter gourd juice to drink. This is because elevation of creatinine and urea levels is always accompanied by decline of urine output or even swelling.

Which vitamin is found in bitter gourd? ›

The fruit is rich in vitamins namely vitamin A, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate and vitamin C. Similarly, it also has high amount of potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc.

Is bitter gourd bad for high blood pressure? ›

High blood pressure: Bitter melon lowers blood pressure. 12 Therefore, a healthcare provider may want to closely monitor you and make any necessary adjustments to your blood pressure medications.

Who Cannot eat bitter gourd? ›

Women who are breastfeeding should also not eat this fruit because some bad substances of bitter melon can be passed into breast milk. People with low blood pressure (or a history of low blood pressure): Bitter melon has the effect of lowering blood pressure thanks to its ingredients Charantin, Polypeptid-P and Vicine.

Is it OK to eat bitter gourd everyday? ›

When enjoyed in moderation, bitter melon can be a healthy and nutritious addition to your diet. However, consuming high amounts of bitter melon or taking bitter melon supplements may be associated with several adverse effects. In particular, bitter melon has been linked to diarrhea and abdominal pain ( 17 ).

Does bitter gourd detoxify liver? ›

Bitter gourd is liver friendly and it detoxifies the liver. It boosts liver enzymes, also reduces alcohol deposits on the liver.

What is the use of Momordica charantia homeopathy? ›

Similia's Momordica charantia mother tincture is one of our fast moving and most effective homeopathic cure. Similia's Momordica charantia mother tincture has been proven to be effective for diabetes, fever and also used in cancer treatments.

Is Momordica charantia edible? ›

The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote, or green bell pepper, but bitter. The skin is tender and edible.

Can I drink Cerasee tea every day? ›

Sickle cell patients can also benefit from drinking cerasee tea as it also counters that illness due to a good source of iron present. Be careful though, as too much of one thing is good for nothing. Medical experts recommend that cerasee tea should not be consumed for more than two to three times a month.

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