Small-fruited wild or feral forms have often been considered to form a distinct taxon at varietal level as var. abbreviata Ser., but the phylogenetic integrity of such a taxon is yet to be established, and it is therefore not formally recognized here[].

Common Name: Balsam Pear

General Information

Momordica charantia is a very vigorous, annual climbing plant producing much-branched stems 5 metres or more long that scramble over the ground or climb up into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of tendrils[, ].
The plant is an important market vegetable in southern and eastern Asia, it is also cultivated on a small scale in tropical America and in the southern part of the United States[].The plant is also grown for medicinal purposes.

Known Hazards

Mature fruits of wild plants are said to be poisonous to people and domestic animals[].

Botanical References

Range

Pantropical - the exact origin is obscure, though it was possibly Africa or India.

Habitat

Savannah and bush[]. Common in coastal thickets, along creeks and streams, and in lowland forest margins[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual Climber
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is best adapted to hot humid areas of the tropics and subtropics, though it can be grown in a wide range of climates right into the temperate zone so long as there is a sufficient growing season[, ]. It can be grown at elevations up to 1,000 metres in the tropics[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 38°c[]. The growing plant can survive temperatures down to about 3°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Requires a soil rich in organic matter if optimum yields are to be achieved[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[].
Plants can start flowering in 30 - 35 days from germinating and begin to produce fruits about 15 - 20 days later[].
Yields of up to 15 tonnes per hectare have been achieved, though 8 - 10 tonnes is a more usual figure[].
There are several named varieties[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - cooked. The immature fruit is soaked in salt water to remove a bitter flavour, and then cooked as a vegetable[, , , ]. They can also be used in curries and pickles[, ]. Non-bitter forms of the fruits are eaten in salads, in the same way as cucumbers[]. The seeds of more mature fruits must be removed[]. The fruit has a higher nutritional value than many members of this family, mainly due to its iron and vitamin C content[]. The oblong fruit is 7 - 25cm long[].

Young shoots and leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[, , , ]. A popular leafy vegetable that is considered very healthy[]. Some farmers even grow bushy bitter gourd types with small fruits especially for this purpose[].

Bitter gourd tea, made from dried fruit pieces, is a popular health drink in Japan and some other Asian countries[].

A red food colouring can be extracted from the ripe fruits[].

Medicinal

Balsam pear is a laxative, diuretic herb that soothes irritated tissue, lowers fevers, kills parasites and cleanses toxins from the system[]. It is probably also a uterine stimulant[].
The plant contains antileukaemic, oestrogenic and hypoglycaemic chemicals[].
The seed contains abortifacient proteins; the glucosidic steroid charantine, which has an insulin-like hypoglycaemic activity; and the oncostatic drug momordin[]. The seeds contain glycoproteins with abortifacient, immunosuppresive and antitumor activity[].

The ripe fruit is a stomach tonic and induces menstruation[]. The fresh juice of the fruit is taken internally in the treatment of colitis and dysentery[].
The unripe fruit contains an insulin-like peptide that has been shown to lower sugar levels in the blood and urine[]. It is used traditionally to treat the symptoms of diabetes, particularly late-onset diabetes[].
The fruit is used to treat leprosy and malignant ulcers; to treat stomach worms, fever and phlegm; hypertension and dysentery[].
The fruit is used externally in the treatment of haemorrhoids, chapped skin and burns[]. The fruit is harvested when young and used fresh as a pulp or juice[].

The leaves are antiseptic, blood purifier, febrifuge and vermifuge[]. An infusion is used in the treatment of intestinal worms, jaundice, malaria and other fevers[]. A decoction of the leaves and stems is used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure and biliousness[].
The leaf juice is applied externally to treat inflammation of the sole of the foot, scabies and itchy skin[, ]. A paste of the leaves is applied as a poultice on cuts and wounds[]. The leaves are used to make an antiseptic bath for children[].
The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and can be used fresh or dried for later use[].

A decoction of the stems, leaves and fruits is used as a bitter tonic and to treat diabetes and cancer[].
The decoction is used externally to treat ulcers and sores[].

A decoction of the flowers and leaves is used to treat hepatitis[].

The oil from the seeds is used to help heal wounds[].

The root is abortifacient and astringent[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. Seedlings emerge 5 - 7 days after sowing, but fresh seed often shows dormancy which is very hard to break and can last for some months[].

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