HERBAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS – Momordica charantia (KARELA)

Momordica charantia or Bitter Melon also known as balsam pear or Karela is a Tropical vegetable is a common food in Indian cusine and has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. The fruit is considered as tonic stomachic stimulant emetic antibilous laxative and alterative. The fruit is useful in gout rheumatism and subacute cases of the spleen and liver diseases. It is supposed to purify blood and dissipate melancholia and gross humours. It has also been shown to have hypoglycaemic properties (antidiabetic) in animal as well as human studies