Balsam Apple

There are 45 species of scrambling annuals and perennials in this genus, which occurs in tropical Africa and Asia, and is naturalized in the Americas. Mormordica charantia was introduced to Europe in 1710 and recorded as a garden plant in France by Vilmorin in 1870. It may be grown against a wall or trellis, under cover in cool areas, for its intricate foliage and colorful, knobby fruits, which are especially decorative when they split open to reveal the seeds. Bitter substances, known as cucurbitacins, are common in the family. In edible species they have been either largely bred out (as in cucumbers) or must be removed by careful soaking of the fruits before use. Momordica charantia is an important food plant in parts of the tropics and is used medicinally in most countries of origin. Other species with medicinal applications include the Oriental M. cochinchinesis, whose poisonous seeds are used externally for skin eruptions and infections, hemorrhoids, mastitis, and, and enlarged lymph nodes, and M. grosvenori, an expectorant and lymphatic cleanser.

Found in many Asian grocery stores, the juice of this extremely bitter fruits has been used traditionally to treat diabetes, cancer, and infections. A study on one hundred people showed that bitter melon can reduce both fasting and after-meal blood glucose levels in people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Annual tendril climber with palmately 5- to 7-lobed leaves, 5-10cm (2--4in) across. Solitary yellow flowers, to 2.5cm (1in) across, are produced in summer, followed by ovoid, warty, orange fruits, 20-25cm (8-10in) long, pointed at both ends, which split into 3 segments when ripe, revealing seeds with red arils.


Common Name:
Balsam Apple
Other Names:
Balsam Pear, Bitter Apple, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon, Carilla Gourd, Karela
Botanical Name:
Momordica charantia
Genus:
Momordica
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Native Location:
Africa and Asia
Cultivation:
Rich, well-drained soil in sun. Plants flower in 30-35 days, producing fruits 15-20 days later. Stop shoots after fruits set. Plants under cover may be damamged by whitefly, spider mites, and aphids. Plants grown outdoors may be protected by individual paper covers against insect damage.
Propagation:
By seed sown in spring at 15-18°C (59-64°F)
Harvest:
Leaves are collected during the growing season and used fresh or dried in infusions. Fruits are picked when young, and used fresh as pulp or juice.
Height:
5m (15ft)
Hardiness:
Min. 15-18°C (59-64°F)
Parts Used:
Leaves, Fruits, Seed
Properties:
A laxative, diuretic herb that soothes irritated tissues, lowers fevers, kills parasites, and cleanses toxins from the system. It is probably a uterine stimulant.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for colitis and dysentery (fresh juice), intestinal worms, jaundice, and fevers (leaves). Externally for hemorrhoids, chapped skin, and burns (fruit).
To treat diabetes, gastrointestinal upset, colitis, ulcers, constipation, intestinal worms, fever, kidney stones, and psoriasis.
Typical Dose:
A typical daily dose of bitter melon is approximately 15gm of aqueous extract or 2oz of juice.
Possible Side Effects:
Bitter melon's side effects include nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.
Drug Interaction:
Taking Bitter Melon with these drugs may cause or increase liver damage:
Abacavir, (Ziagen)
Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose)
Acetaminophen, (Genepap, Tylenol)
Allopurinol, (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
Atorvastin, (Lipitor)
Celecoxib, (Celebrex)
Cidofovir, (Vistide)
Cyclosporine, (Neoral, Sandimmune)
Meloxicam, (MOBIC, Mobicox)
Methotrexate, (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
Methyldopa, (Apo-Methyldopa, Nu-Medopa)
Modafinil, (Alertec, Provigil)
Morphine Hydrochloride, (Morphine Hydrochloride)
Morphine Sulfate, (Kadian, MS Contin)
Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Nelfinavir, (Viracept)
Nevirapine, (Viramune)
Nitrofurantoin, (Furadantin, Macrobid)
Ondansetron, (Zofran)
Paclitaxel, (Onxol, Taxol)
Pantoprazole, (Pantoloc, Protonix)
Phenytoin, (Dilantin, Phenytek)
Pioglitazone, (Actos)
Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox)
Pravastatin, (Novo-Pravastatin, Pravachol)
Prochlorperazine, (Compazine, Compro)
Propoxyphene, (Darvon, Darvon-N)
Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin)
Rifampin, (Rifadin, Rimactane)
Rifapentine, (Priftin)
Ritonavir, (Norvir)
Rofecoxib, (Vioxx)
Rosiglitazone, (Avandia)
Saquinavir, (Fortovase, Invirase)
Simvastatin, (Apo-Sinvastatin, Zocor)
Stavudine, (Zerit)
Tamoxifen, (Nolvadex, Tamofen)
Tramadol, (Ultram)
Zidovudine, (Novo-AZT, Retrovir)
Taking bitter melon with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):
Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose)
Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide)
Chlorpropamide, (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide)
Gliclazide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide)
Glimepiride, (Amaryl)
Glipizide, (Glucotrol)
Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip)
Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm)
Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase)
Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance)
Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R)
Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet)
Miglitol, (Glyset)
Nateglinide, (Starlix)
Pioglitazone, (Actos)
Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin)
Rosiglitazone, (Avandia)
Rosiglitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet)
Tolazamide, (Tolinase)
Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab)
Lab Test Alterations:
  • May decrease blood glucose test values if taken with chlorpropamide.
  • May lower blood glucose in those with type 2 diabetes.
  • May lower glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetes patients after seven weeks of treatment.
Disease Effects:
May lower blood sugar levels and trigger hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people with diabetes.
Supplement Interactions:
May increase blood glucose-lowering effects and risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used with herbs and supplements that lower glucose levels, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, Devil's Claw, Panax Ginseng, and Psyllium.
Culinary Uses:
Unripe (green) fruits are added to curries or eaten raw, boiled, or fried, after parboiling or soaking in salt water to remove bitterness. Young leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable.
Bibliography:
Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pps. 279-280
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.73-74