Karela
|
Botanical Name |
Momordica charantia |
|
Family |
Cucurbitaceae |
|
Other Names |
Bitter gourd, bitter melon, cerassie |
|
Description |
Slender, branched climbing shrub. Leaves: kidney shaped, lobed. Flowers: yellow Fruit: similar to cucumber with ridges or soft spines up to 7cm |
|
Native to |
India, China, Africa, parts of America |
|
Parts Used |
Fruit, leaf |
|
Constituents |
Triterpene glycosides –momordicosides A-L, goyaglycosides A-H, charine, vicine, momordicin, momordicinin, cucurbitanes I, II and III Protein –alpha momorcharins, beta momorcharins, gamma momorcharins, momordins a and b, other lectins Sterols –campesterol, beta sitosterol Fatty acids –palmitic acid, oleic acid Volatile oil –pentenyl, hexenyl and other aldehydes, menthol, nerolidol, myrtenol, sabinol Leaf: triterpene glycosides –the goyasaponins I, II, III |