- Family
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Cucurbitaceae.
- Habitat
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Cultivated all over India for its fruits.
- English
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Bitter Gourd, Blsam Pear, Carilla.
- Ayurvedic
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Kaaravellaka, Kaaravella, Kaathilla, Sushaavi.
- Unani
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Karelaa.
- Siddha/Tamil
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Paakal, Paharkai.
- Action
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Seed/fruit—improves diabetic condition. Fruit—stomachic, laxative, antibilious, emetic, anthelmintic. Used in cough, respiratory diseases, intestinal worms, skin diseases, also for gout and rheumatism. Powdered fruit—applied to wounds and ulcers. Leaf—emetic, antibilious, purgative. Fruit, leaf and root—abortifacient. Leaf and seed—anthelmintic. Root—astringent; appled to haemorrhoids.
Immature fruits gave several non-bitter and bitter momordicosides. Fruits, seeds and tissue culture gave a polypeptide containing amino acids. Fruits also gave 5-hydroxytryptamine, charantin (a steroidal glucoside), diosgenin, cholesterol, lanosterol and beta-sitosterol. Bitter principles are cucurbitacin glycosides.
Hypoglycaemic effects of the fruit have been demonstrated by blood...