Bitter gourd

Momordica charantia L.

A boon to

Human being on the globe

Presented by

Dr. Sudhakar Kokate

Director PPRC, India

PPRC/INDIA 01

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Momordica : a genus of 42 species

Annual climbers

It grows in tropical countries Africa, Asia, Amazon,

South America

PPRC/INDIA 02

Name from Latin meaning : “to bite”

Some species: Momordica widely cultivated in India.

Recorded species : 5

Species : M. balsamia

M. charantia

M. cochinchinensis spreng.

PPRC/INDIA 03

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)

PPRC/INDIA 04

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 transport at the brush border of the

small intestine (Matsuda et. al. 1998)

PPRC/INDIA 05

PPRC/INDIA 06

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

PPRC/INDIA 07

* Wounds

* Management of worms

* Management of parasites

* Measles & hepatitis

* Peptic ulcer

* Contraceptive

* Rheumatism

* Jaundice

* Kidney stones

* Piles

* Malaria

* Eczema

PPRC/INDIA 08

PPRC/INDIA 09

Also known as ……… bitter cucumber

bitter melon

balsam pear

karela

A monoecious climber, stem slender, leaves sub -

orbicular, flowers – yellow, fruits – 5 – 25 cm

PPRC/INDIA 10

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

PPRC/INDIA 11

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)

PPRC/INDIA 12

PPRC/INDIA 13

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 % total proteins containing ……..

PPRC/INDIA 14

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

PPRC/INDIA 15

Fruit: Moisture …. 83.2 %

Protein …. 2.9 %

Fat …. 1.0 %

Carbohydrates …. 9.8 %

Fibre …. 1.7 %

Mineral matter …. 1.4 %

PPRC/INDIA 16

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

PPRC/INDIA 17

* Anti-diabetic

* Anti-cancer

* Anti-viral

* Anti-oxidant

* Anti-obesity

* Anti-helminthic

* Immuno-modulatory

* Hepato-renal

* Hypolipidemic

PPRC/INDIA 18

* Glycosides

* Saponins

* Alkaloids

* Fixed oils

* Triterpenes

* Protein

* Steroids

* Kara compounds

* Vitamin C

* Vitamin A

* Phosphorus

* Iron

PPRC/INDIA 19

* Inulinomimitic lectins

* Charantin

* Steroidal glycosides

* Oleanolic acid 3-0-monodesmoside

* Oleanolic acid 3-0-glucuronide

PPRC/INDIA 20

Bitter gourd recipes

PPRC/INDIA 21

* Masala Bharwan karela

* Bitter gourd curry

* Bitter gourd pitlai

* Karela bhindi masala

* Karela chips

PPRC/INDIA 22

PPRC/INDIA 23

PPRC/INDIA 24

PPRC/INDIA 25

PPRC/INDIA 26

PPRC/INDIA 27

* Karela rice

* Khatta meetha karela

* Yammy karela

* Green glow

* Hot karela achaar

PPRC/INDIA 28

* Fried karela boat

* Crispy bitter gourd

* Stuffed karela in makhani gravy

* Chatpati bitter gourd bhujia

* Karela mussalam

PPRC/INDIA 29

PPRC/INDIA 30

PPRC/INDIA 31

PPRC/INDIA 32

PPRC/INDIA 33

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

PPRC/INDIA 34

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

PPRC/INDIA 35

PPRC/INDIA 36

Lowers blood glucose due to chemical “charantin”

It purifies blood, curing blood boils, itching due to

blood poisoning

Being high in fibre prevents constipation and many

stomach disorders

PPRC/INDIA 37

To lose body weight

For curing pile, a painful disease

To treat cholera in early stage

To strengthen the immune system

PPRC/INDIA 38

To alleviate eye problems and improve eyesight

In Africa, Asia Karela fruit is used against

gastrointestinal disorders

Leaves juice is helpful in Jaundice, Malaria

R & D proves that Karela may be useful in solving

leukemia problems

PPRC/INDIA 39

Thank You!!