Bitter melon
Momordica charantia L.Cucurbitaceae // fruit · seed · leaf
Overview
Plant parts
fruit, seed, leaf
Known constituents
charantin, polypeptide-p, cucurbitane triterpenes
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include charantin; polypeptide-p; cucurbitane triterpenes; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Bitter melon has been used for diabetes; digestive complaints; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (diabetes; digestive complaints), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited/mixed trials and reviews; insufficient to replace standard glucose-lowering therapy.
MODERATE · randomized controlled trial · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is fruit; seed; leaf; traditional and modern forms include infusion/tea, tincture, powder/capsule, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Hypoglycemia, GI upset; seed constituents may be toxic. Contraindications/cautions include Pregnancy; G6PD deficiency caution for seeds.
HIGH · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Additive with diabetes drugs.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Avoid medicinal use in pregnancy; lactation data insufficient.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
Botanical synonym
Momordica muricata Willd.
Taxonomic identity note
- Bitter melon is treated here as Momordica charantia L. in the family Cucurbitaceae; recorded older names include Momordica muricata Willd..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
EMA monograph
NIH LiverTox monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
WHO monograph