Properties of Bitter Gourd

Parts of the Plant

• The root of the bitter gourd plant acts as an astringent or a pore-closing substance. Juice from the leaves and seeds along with fruit pulp has anti-helimintic properties, which expel parasitic worms from the body. The leaves of the bitter gourd act as a galactogogue, promoting the secretion of milk in animals and humans.

Properties

• The aerial parts of the bitter gourd possess a number of active ingredients including tannins, flavanoids, alkaloids, quinines and phenols. Fruit consists of amino acids such as beta alanine, alanine, gamma alanine, glutamic acid, tryptamine, and gamma-amino-butric acid, among others. Amino acids are also found in the seeds and include arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, leucine, lysine and histadine.

Medicinal Uses

• Bitter gourd has long been used in its native cultures as a medicinal plant. The many different nutrients in the bitter gourd is said to aid in the treatment of inflammation, diabetes, colds and sore throats, fever, menstrual problems, malaria and kidney stones as well as hypertension and nausea. The parts of the plant used in medicinal treatments include the aerial parts, fruit and seeds. Preparations include juice decoction, topical balm and as a bath infusion.

Food Uses

• Finely chop the leaves of the bitter gourd and add to vegetable or meat dishes as a spice to give the food a curry-like taste. A small amount of leaves may also be chopped and mixed with other greens for a salad. Green fruit, sliced thinly, can be dried and stored to be used at a later time. Dried or fresh fruit is prepared and eaten as a vegetable or boiled for a decoction.

Toxic Properties

• The toxin lectin is contained in the seeds and rind of the bitter gourd. The toxin is associated with abortions in animals and should not be consumed by pregnant women. The toxin also may have an adverse interaction with glucose lowering drugs commonly used by diabetics. The toxin may have a stronger effect on children and use should be more closely monitored as doses of bitter gourd have not been established for children.