Momordica charantia

Scientific name: Momordica charantia L.

Botanical family: CUCURBITACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Haiti:

asorosi

Honduras:

calaica

Barbados:

cerasee

Trinidad and Tobago:

corailee
popololo
sorrow seed

Puerto Rico:

cundeamor

Dominican Republic:

cundeamor

Venezuela:

cundeamor

Dominica:

kokouli

Antigua and Barbuda:

maiden blush

Costa Rica:

sorosí

Guatemala:

sorosí

Other vernacular names

Haiti:

Asorosi
Asorosi/cundeamor
Asosi
Yesken

Colombia:

Balsamina

Honduras:

Calaica

Barbados:

Cerasee

Trinidad and Tobago:

Corailee = sorrow seed = popololo

Dominican Republic:

Cuandiamor
Cuendeamor
Cundeamor

Cuba:

Cundeamor

Puerto Rico:

Cundeamor

Dominica:

Kokouli
Maiden apple cocouli
Maiden's apple o pomme cooli

Antigua and Barbuda:

Maiden Blush

Guadeloupe:

Paroka

Belize:

Sorosi

Costa Rica:

Sorosi

Guatemala:

Sorosí

Geographical distribution

Originally from the Old World and naturalised throughout the tropics.

Botanical description

Climbing herb of up to 6 m, usually very ramified. Alternate leaves 4-12 cm, 5-7 lobate; lobes obtuse or mucronulate with serrate or crenate margins. Yellow corolla, obtuse or emarginate segments of 1.5 to 2 cm. Ellipsoid, tuberculate, dehiscent fruit, 5 to 15 cm in diameter, yellow to orange, with 3 shells; red-coloured pulp; elliptic, flat seeds, 10 to 16 mm.

Voucher(s)

Faujour,3,BAR

Pimentel,1111,JBSD

García,2329,JBSD

Girón,167,CGEH

Delens,105,VEN

Lagos-Witte,7,HPMHV

Fonrose,52,SOE

Mejía,s/n,MAPR

Delaigue,19,NHTT

pruritus (itch)

aerial parts, crushed and/ or in aqueous maceration, bath, friction, and local application^{1-9, 51}

boils

aerial parts, crushed, bath⁵

dry skin conditions

aerial parts, crushed and/ or in aqueous maceration, bath, friction, and local application^{1-9, 51}

skin rash

leaf and stem, bath and cataplasm^7,13

cold

aerial parts, decoction, orally^10-12

lice (pediculosis)

aerial parts, crushed and/ or in aqueous maceration, bath, friction, and local application^{1-9, 51}

For skin conditions or pruritus:
wash the aerial parts of the plant adequately and crush them. Apply 30 grams (a bunch) of plant material to the affected area of the skin 3 times a day.

For colds:
prepare a decoction with 30 grams of aerial parts in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a closed vessel. Cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for furuncles and colds is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity studies and the scientific information published.

The use for dry skin conditions, itching and lice (pediculosis) is classified as REC based on the traditional experience in the documented significant use in the TRAMIL surveys and toxicity studies.

All topical application must follow strict hygiene measures in order to prevent contamination or additional infection.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the furuncles persist for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Not for oral use during pregnancy because it can cause miscarriage and teratogenic effects.

Not for use during breastfeeding or in children under 3 years of age.

TRAMIL Works^30-31
The freeze-dried juice obtained from 500 g of leaves applied with patches of sterile gauze to the depilated skin of a group of 14 male New Zealand albino rabbits (2-3 kg) and 16 white Hartley guinea pigs of both sexes, with observation after 24 and 72 hours and histopathological analysis by biopsy, showed a primary irritation index of less than 5 (non-irritant and non-allergenic).

TRAMIL Work¹⁶
The decoction of the whole plant with green fruit and without roots (25 g/kg) orally and intraperitoneally in mice, did not cause death. The ripe fruit orally in mice showed a LD₅₀ = 3 g/kg.

The aqueous extract (decoction) from aerial parts (2 doses of 25 ml/kg) orally in female Wistar rats (150 and 200 g), acute toxicity class method, did not cause any toxic signs or mortality in 14 days of observation, with an LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg³².

The aqueous extract from aerial parts, topically, skin (0.5 ml) and ophthalmic (0.1 ml) irritation test in New Zealand rabbits, methods described in OECD 404 and 405, were classified as non-irritant in both models³².

The ethanolic extract (50%) of whole plant (10 g/kg) subcutaneously and orally in mice, did not cause manifestations of general toxicity²⁹.

The fruit extract processed with acetone and purified with the presence of the hypoglycemic active ingredient, intraperitoneally in mice, revealed signs of renal toxicity due to increased levels of ureic nitrogen, without harmful effects on liver, heart or blood³³.

The aqueous leaf extract (decoction, 500 mg/kg), orally in female rats, did not produce any anti-implantation effects. At doses of 200 mg/kg, it did not produce any abortive or embryotoxic effects³⁴.

The aqueous extract (decoction) from fresh leaves (0.10 mg/ml) in vitro had genotoxic activity on Aspergillus nidulans³⁵.

The juice of the fruit (6 ml/kg/day) orally in female rabbits caused death after 23 days. In pregnant rabbits it resulted in 10 deaths and 2 uterine haemorrhages³⁶.

The aqueous extract from the green fruit (5 kg/300 ml, 2 ml/day), orally in 24 pregnant Sprague-Dowley rats on days 7 to 14 of gestation, showed malformations in 8.65% of the offspring of the animals that received the extract, compared to 1.62% of the controls. 31.2% of all the malformed offspring had multiple congenital malformations³⁷.

The alcoholic fruit extract (95%, 1.75 g/animal/day), orally in male dogs, caused a decrease in sperm formation after 20 days and progressive and total destruction of the seminiferous tubules, destruction of a large number of different types of cells, except Sertoli cells and basal spermatogonial cells, as well as a decrease in the lumen of the epididymis and the vas deferens after 60 days of administration³⁸.

The alcoholic extract (95%) from fruit (200 mg/kg/day) orally in male gerbils for 14 days, induced a significant reduction in testicular weight and interrupted spermatogenesis, without affecting the seminiferous vessels or the prostate³⁹.

The ethanolic fruit extract (95%, 110 mg/kg/day) orally in male gerbils for 30 days did not cause general toxicity effects. At 150 mg/kg/day, it caused the death of 20-30% of the animals before day 30³⁸.

The aqueous fruit extract (decoction) at a dose of 500 mg/person orally was not toxic⁴⁰.

The aqueous extract from the whole plant (15 ml/person/day) orally in pregnant women, inhibited fetal development⁴¹.

Compounds present in the seed (α-trichosanthin and β-momorcharin) are attributed to abortive effect^42-43.

There is no information available documenting the safety of use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

TRAMIL Work¹⁵
Preliminary phytochemical screening (aerial parts):

alkaloids:	±	saponins:	+
flavonoids:	±	phenolic compounds:	+
quinones:	+	tannins:	+
steroids, terpenoids:	+

There is a great variation in the chemical composition depending on the place of growth¹⁶.

Proximate analysis of 100 g of leaves¹⁷: calories: 44; water: 84.6%; protein: 5.6%; fat: 0.6%; carbohydrates: 7%; fibre: 1.6%; ash: 2.2%; calcium: 288 mg; phosphorus: 54 mg; iron: 5 mg; sodium: 19 mg; potassium: 510 mg; carotene: 5085 μg; thiamine: 0.13 mg; riboflavin: 0.45 mg; niacin: 1.50 mg; ascorbic acid: 170 mg.

Chemical constituents of Momordica charantia:

Part of the plant	Type of constituent	Name of constituent
aerial parts	triterpenes_¹⁸	momordicines I, II and III
fruit	amino acids_^19-20	alanine, β-alanine, phenylalanine, g-amino-butyric acid, glutamic acid, proline, tryptamine, polypeptide p
fruit	steroids_²¹ glucide^₂₁	charantin α-spinasterol, β- sitosterol, stigmasterol and D- galacturonic acid derivatives
green fruit	saponin^₂₂	diosgenin
green fruit	triterpenes_²³	momordicosides E, E-1, EX, F, F’,F-1, F-2, G, H, I, J, K, & L
pericarp fruit	carotenoids_²⁴	α, β and γ carotenes and derivatives, lutein, lycopene, rubixanthin, zeaxanthin, zeinoxanthin

The aqueous leaf extract (decoction) in vitro did not demonstrate antifungal activity against Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. algodonosa or var. granulare²⁵.

The aqueous extract from dried leaves at variable concentrations resulted in strong insecticidal activity against Blatella germanica, but not against Oncopeltus fasciatus²⁶.

The methanolic extract from dried leaves (2 mg/ml) in vitro, was active against Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Streptobacillus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus²⁷.

The aqueous extract of exhibited marked activity against Bacillus subtilis (LC = 50 mg/disc) and Candida albicans (LC = 25 mg/disc); the chloroform, ether and methanol extracts were also active, but comparatively to a lesser extent²⁸.

The hydroalcoholic extract (50%) from the whole dried plant was weakly antihistaminic in guinea pig ileum (0.01 g/ml)²⁹.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 CHARLES C, 1988
TRAMIL survey. Movement for Cultural Awareness MCA, Roseau, Dominica.

2 WENIGER B, ROUZIER M, 1986
Enquête TRAMIL. Service Oecuménique d’Entraide SOE, Port au Prince, Haïti.

3 LAGOS-WITTE S, 1988-1995
Encuestas TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Histología Vegetal y Etnobotánica, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras UNAH, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

4 GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

5 WENIGER B, 1987-88
Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

6 CASTILLO D, RODRIGUEZ S, DE LOS SANTOS C, BELEN A, 2003
Encuesta TRAMIL (Zambrana, Cotuí). Dep. de Botánica, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.

7 CASTILLO D, RODRIGUEZ S, DE LOS SANTOS C, BELEN A, 2003
Encuesta TRAMIL (region Este). Dep. de Botánica, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.

8 DELENS M, 1990
Encuesta TRAMIL en Barlovento, Edo. Miranda de Venezuela. Centro al Servicio de la Acción Popular CESAP, Caracas, Venezuela.

9 GIRON L, 1988
Encuesta TRAMIL (Costa atlántica). Centro Mesoamericano de Tecnología CEMAT, Guatemala.

10 DELAIGUE J, 2005
TRAMIL survey. UAG & PRDI, Tobago House of Assembly, Scarborough, Tobago.

11 O’REILLY A, 1992
TRAMIL survey. Chemistry & Food Technology Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Dunbars, Antigua & Barbuda.

12 OCAMPO R, 1988
Encuesta TRAMIL (Costa atlántica), Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.

13 FAUJOUR A, MURREY D, CHELTENHAM B, CARRINGTON S, 2003
TRAMIL survey. IICA & UAG, Saint Thomas, Barbados.

14 BENEDETTI MD, 1994
Encuesta TRAMIL. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

15 WENIGER B, SAVARY H, DAGUIHL R, 1984
Tri phytochimique de plantes de la liste TRAMIL. Laboratoire de chimie des substances naturelles, Faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, Université d’Etat d’Haïti, Port au Prince, Haïti.

16 HERRERA J, 1990
Determinación de actividades biológicas de vegetales utilizados en medicina tradicional. Informe TRAMIL. Dep. de Farmacología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.

17 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.p110.

18 YASUDA M, IWAMOTO M, OKABE H, YAMAUCHI T, 1984
Structures of momordicines I, II and III, the bitter principles in the leaves and vines of Momordica charantia. Chem Pharm Bull 32(5):2044-2047.

19 DHALLA NS, GUPTA KC, SASTRY MS, MALHOTRA CL, 1961
Chemical composition of the fruit of Momordica charantia. Indian J Pharmacy 23:128-130.

20 KANNA B, 1976
Insulin from Momordica charantia. Patent-Japan Kokai.

21 NG TB, YEUNG HW, 1984
Bioactive constituents of Cucurbitaceae plants with special emphasis on Momordica charantia and Trichosanthes kirilowii. Seoul, Korea: Proc. 5th. Symposium Medicinal Plants and Spices.

22 KHANNA P, MOHAN S, 1973
Isolation and identification of diosgenin and sterols from fruits and in vitro cultures of Momordica charantia. Indian J Exp Biol 11:58-60.

23 OKABE H, MIYAHARA K, YAMAGUCHI T, MIYAHARA K, KAWASAKI T, 1980
Studies on the constituents of Momordica charantia L. I: Isolation and characterization of momordicosides A and B, glycosides of a pentahydroxy-cucurbitane triterpene. Chem Pharm Bull 28(9):2753-2762.

24 RODRIGUEZ DB, RAYMUNDO LC, TUNG-CHING LEE, SIMPSON KL, CHICHESTER CO, 1976
Carotenoid pigment changes in ripening Momordica charantia fruits. Ann Bot (London) 40:615-624.

25 CACERES A, JAUREGUI E, HERRERA D, LOGEMANN H, 1991
Plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal infections. 1: Screening of 38 plant extracts for anticandidal activity. J Ethnopharmacol 33(3):277-283.

26 HEAL R, ROGERS E, WALLACE RT, STARNES O, 1950
A survey of plants for insecticidal activity. Lloydia 13(2):89-162.

27 HUSSAIN HSN, DEENI YY, 1991
Plants in Kano ethnomedicine; screening for antimicrobial activity and alkaloids. Int J Pharmacol 29(1):51-56.

28 MANEELRT S, SATTHAMPONGSA A, 1978
Antimicrobial activity of Momordica charantia. Undergraduate special project report. Bangkok, Thailand: Mahidol University. Faculty of Pharmacy.

29 MOKKHASMIT M, SAWASDIMONGKOL K, SATRAWAHA P, 1971
Study on toxicity of Thai medicinal plants. Bull Dept Med Sci 12(1/2):36-65.

30 GONZALEZ A, ALFONSO H, 1990
Evaluación de la toxicidad dérmica de Momordica charantia L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill y Cassia occidentalis L. en cobayos. Informe TRAMIL. Centro Nacional de Salud Animal, La Habana, Cuba.

31 GONZALEZ A, ALFONSO H, 1990
Evaluación de la toxicidad dérmica de Momordica charantia L. y Cassia occidentalis L. en conejos. Informe TRAMIL. Centro Nacional de Salud Animal, La Habana, Cuba.

32 LAGARTO A, COURET M, GUERRA I, LOPEZ R, 2008
Toxicidad aguda oral y ensayos de irritación de extractos acuoso e hidroalcohólico de (follaje) Momordica charantia L. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online] 13(3):0-0. Disponible en: http://bvs.sld.cu/revistas/pla/vol13_3_08/pla05308.htm

33 TABORA O, 1986
Estudio de toxicidad aguda en ratones de la fracción hipoglucemiante de Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae). Tegucigalpa, Honduras: IV Semana Científica Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras UNAH.

34 PRAKASH AO, MATHUR R, 1976
Screening of Indian plants for antifertility activity. Indian J Exp Biol 14(5):623-626. 35

35 RUIZ AR, DE LA TORRE RA, ALONSO N, VILLAESCUSA A, BETANCOURT J, VIZOSO A, 1996
Screening of medicinal plants for induction of somatic segregation activity in Aspergillus nidulans. J Ethnopharmacol 52(3):123-127.

36 SHARMA VN, SOGANI RK, ARORA RB, 1960
Some observations on hypoglycemic activity of Momordica charantia. Indian J Med Res 48(4):471-477.

37 UCHE-NWACHI EO, MC EWEN C, 2010
Teratogenic effect of the water extract of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) on the Sprague Dawley rats. African J of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 7(1):24-33.

38 DIXIT VP, KHANNA P, BHARGAVA SK, 1978
Effects of Momordica charantia fruit extract on the testicular function of dog. Planta Med 34(3):280-286.

39 KOENTJORO-SOEHADI T, SANTA I, 1982
Perspectives of male contraception with regards to Indonesian traditional drugs. Bali, Indonesia: 2nd National Congress of Indonesian Society of Andrology.

40 KHAN AH, BURNEY A, 1962
A preliminary study of the hypoglycemic properties of indigenous plants. Pakistan J Med Res 2:100-116.

41 WEST M, SIDRAK G, STREET S, 1971
The anti-growth properties of extracts from Momordica charantia. West Indian Med J 20(1):25-34.

42 NG T, 1988
Effects of momorcharins on ovarian response to gonadotropin induced superovulation in mice. Int J Fertil 33(2):123-128.

43 YEUNG HW, LI WW, FENG Z, BARBIERI L, STIRPE F, 1988
Trichosanthin, alpha-momorcharin and beta-momorcharin: Identity of abortifacient and ribosome-inactivating protein. Int J Peptide Protein Res 31(3):265-268.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Momordica charantia

Vernacular names

Haiti:

Honduras:

Barbados:

Trinidad and Tobago:

Puerto Rico:

Dominican Republic:

Venezuela:

Dominica:

Antigua and Barbuda:

Costa Rica:

Guatemala:

Haiti:

Colombia:

Honduras:

Barbados:

Trinidad and Tobago:

Dominican Republic:

Cuba:

Puerto Rico:

Dominica:

Antigua and Barbuda:

Guadeloupe:

Belize:

Costa Rica:

Guatemala:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

Disclaimer