Momordica charantia L.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Synonym:Momordica chinensis Spreng.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Korolla, Tita korolla.

Tribal name: Tit gula (Chakma), Chaimranci (Chak), Achamasi (Khumi), Chamgkha (Lushai), Titkorolla (Marma), Ching-che (Murang), Vurluk (Pangkhoa), Gank-khera-apang (Rakhaing), Belati tira gula (Tanchangya).

English name: Bitter gourd, Carilla fruit, Bitter melon.

Description of the plant: An annual, climbing herb. Tendrils simple, up to 20 cm long.Leaves 2.5-10 cm in diameter, cut nearly to the base into 5-7 lobes, oblong-ovate, variously toothed, and heart-shaped at the base.Plant monoecious, flower yellow solitary with long slender peduncles. Fruit green, fleshy, oblong, cylindric, 15-25 cm long, pointed at both ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when mature to release seeds; seeds compressed, oblong.

Plant parts used: Leaf, flower, fruit, seed, root.

Herbal uses: Fresh juice extracted from the fruitsof the plant is taken twice a day (5 ml amount each time) for one week to treat flatulence.

Seedsof the plant are used to expel worms.

Powdered leaves or root decoction is applied to treat haemorrhoids.

Infusion of leaves or leaf juice isused for the treatment of fever.

A fresh juice extracted from the fruits of the plantis taken thrice a day (10 ml amount each time) until the diabetes is cured.

Infusion of flowers is given for the treatment of asthma.

Pounded leaves are applied to treat headache, skin diseases, burns, and scalds.

Juice of leaves isused for the treatment of chronic coughs.

Fresh juice extracted from the fruitsof the plant is taken twice a day (two tea spoons amount each time) for two weeks to treat allergy.

A fresh juice extracted from the fruits is taken thrice a day (10 ml amount each time) for seven days to treat chicken pox.

The plant is used to treat eczema, malaria, gout, jaundice, abdominal pain, kidney stone, leprosy, leucorrhoea, piles, pneumonia, psoriasis, rheumatism, and scabies.

Distribution: The species is cultivated throughout the country.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….