What are some interesting facts about bitter gourd?
Interesting facts about bitter gourd
- Belonging to the cucumber family yet least loved in that list.
- Popular in most Asian cuisines, the bitter gourd arrives in stews, soups, and stir-fries more often than you think across South East Asian countries and India.
- It is one of the best hangover remedies. ...
Is bitter gourd the healthiest vegetable?
Bitter gourd or bitter melon is a magical vegetable giving a wide array of health benefits. Here are some of the significant benefits that the vegetable offers- Bittergourd is a great vegetable to consume for diabetic patients. It boosts insulin production and helps in reducing the high blood sugar levels.
Is bitter gourd a fruit or vegetable?
Technically, bitter gourd is a fruit. But when it comes to culinary, it is treated as a vegetable. The fruits are commonly have seeds and the vegetables are usually leaves, stem and root crops. Since the bitter gourd has seeds then they are fruit. The fruits are growing bigger and longer as times goes by.
Why does the gourd taste bitter?
- Truth never changes but the lie can be moulded according to the situation/wish.
- Truth depicts the actual scene. ...
- Truth is what people must see & a lie(here in terms of false hopes & imagination) is what people want to see.
- A lie can be partial but truth can never be.
- Lie can move towards money, power, experience, etc but truth always stands still.
What is the common name of bitter gourd?
Momordica charantia (MC), a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is also known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, pare, or karela. It is a widely grown and consumed vegetable in Asia, East Africa, India, and South America.
What is the scientific name of bitter gourd leaves?
Momordica charantia (bitter gourd)
What is another name for bitter melon?
Definition of bitter melon Note: Both the plant and its fruit are also called balsam apple, balsam pear, bitter gourd, (India) karela, and (Philippines) ampalaya.
What is the scientific name of Momordica charantia?
MomordicaMomordica / Scientific name
What is the scientific name of squash?
CucurbitaSquash / Scientific name
What is meaning of bitter gourd?
Definition of bitter gourd 1 : colocynth. 2 : an edible gourd of Australia and Asia that is probably identical with a snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina) 3 : bitter melon.
What is the Indian name for bitter melon?
KarelaKarela, also known as bitter gourd and bitter melon, is a popular ingredient in many Asian countries. In India, it is often made into a dish called khatta meetha karela, where the bitter gourd is cooked with several ingredients, including cumin, chilies, ginger, coriander, and turmeric.
Is bitter gourd fruit or vegetable?
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is an important vegetable crop and is grown for its immature tuberculate fruits which have a unique bitter taste. Fruits are considered as a rich source of vitamins and minerals and 88 mg vitamin C per 100 g. Fruits are used after cooking and delicious preparations are made after ...
Which country eats bitter gourd?
It has also been used in place of hops as the bittering ingredient in some beers in China and Okinawa. Bitter gourd is commonly eaten throughout India. In North Indian cuisine, it is often served with yogurt on the side to offset the bitterness, used in curry such as sabzi or stuffed with spices and then cooked in oil.
What is the scientific name of cucumber?
Cucumis sativusCucumber / Scientific namecucumber, (Cucumis sativus), creeping plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), widely cultivated for its edible fruit.
What's the scientific name for watermelon?
Citrullus lanatusWatermelon / Scientific namewatermelon, (Citrullus lanatus), succulent fruit and vinelike plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to tropical Africa and cultivated around the world.
What is the pH of bitter gourd?
The pH of the bitter gourd juices was in the range of 4.24–4.45.
What is the name of the bitter fruit?
M. charantia is a tropical and subtropical species belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, and is widely grown for its edible fruit, which is among the most bitter of all fruits. Various names exist for the plant and its fruit, including bitter melon, bitter gourd, goya from the Japanese or Karela from Hindi, ampalayá from Tagalog, and cerasee (Caribbean and South America; also spelled cerasse) ( Maiti et al., 2012 ).
Where is Momordica cultivated?
There are five other cultivated Momordica species in addition to M. charantia. The other species are cultivatedin Asia and some parts of Africa ( Robinson and Decker-Walters, 1997 ).
What are the pests that affect Cucurbit?
Most of the insects and pathogens that affect cucurbit crops in the tropics also affect M. charantia when it is grown as a crop and presumably when it occurs as a weed. There is a very large amount of literature on insects and pathogens affecting M. charantia as a crop, especially from India. Pests of particular note include root knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) ( Paruthi et al., 1995 ), epilachna beetles ( Ahmed and Khatun, 1996 ), Pseudoperonospora cubensis and Alternaria alternata ( Bains et al., 1996 ), Dacus cucurbitae (melon fruit fly) ( Gupta and Verna, 1995 ), Fusarium wilt ( Lin et al., 1996 ), thrips ( Kajita et al., 1996 ), zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus ( Fukumoto et al., 1993 ), dodder (cuscuta spp.) ( Kondap and Kumar, 1993) and many others.#N#No natural enemies have been reported from M. charantia as a weed, although it has been suggested that its high susceptibility to root knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) may limit its weedy vigour ( Holm et al., 1997 ).
What is the name of the flower that is a symbol of the Latin word "mordeo"?
Momordica charanita L. is the most widely cultivated species of Momordica. The generic name apparently derives from the Latin mordeo (to bite ), perhaps a reference to the jagged edges of the seeds; charantia is from the ancient Greek for beautiful flower.
How long are pendulous fruit?
The pendulous cylindrical fruits are egg-shaped and 2-10 cm long (up to 20 cm in cultivated varieties), and covered with longitudinal ridges and warts. At maturity, they turn orange to yellow, and the tips split into three and turn back to reveal the yellow pulp and the bright red arils that enclose the seeds which adhere to the inside of the fruit. Each of the flattened woody seeds is 5-9 mm long, and has finely pitted surfaces.
How long are the leaves of a slender green plant?
The leaves are carried singly along the stems on 3-5 cm long stalks, and each leaf is 4-10 cm long, rounded in outline, and deeply 5-9 lobed.
Is M. charantia a threat to native plants?
This species is a fast-growing vine which has been widely introduced to be consumed as a vegetable and to be used in traditional medicine, and which has escaped from cultivation and naturalized becoming a serious threat for native plant communities ( PIER, 2014 ). Therefore, the likelihood of this species to invade and colonize new habitats remains high.
Where is bitter gourd grown?
Bitter gourd is extensively cultivated in numerous Asian countries (especially China, India, Japan, and Malaysia), East Africa, the Caribbean, the Amazon, and also some parts of South America.
What is bitter melon?
Bitter melon is the common name of the fruit of Momordica charantia, family Cucurbitaceae [159]. In folk medicine, it is widely used in the treatment of diabetes [159]. Oral administration of the seed or fruit juice significantly reduced the level of blood glucose through increasing insulin secretion, inhibition of glucose reabsorption in guts, preservation of islet β-cells, increasing of peripheral glucose utilization, and suppression of gluconeogenic enzymes [159]. M. charantia contains biologically active compounds, momordicin and momorcharin, which play a vital role as antidiabetic agents, because they have chemical structures similar to insulin that improve glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes [17,18]. In addition, they inhibit gluconeogenesis in type 1 diabetic patients [17]. Moreover, M. charantia contains other biologically active compounds as vicine, the pyrimidine nucleoside, in the seeds and charantin, the sterol glucoside mixture, in the fruits [160].
What is the most common vegetable crop in India?
Momordica charantia L. is most common vegetable crop, belongs to family Cucurbitaceae, and commonly known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, and Karela in India. It is widely cultivated and utilized as nutritious as well as medicinal plant in the households of Indian sub-continents. Bitter gourd is the leading vegetable crop and the high yields and maximum economic return made them most preferred vegetable crop in India. It contains various metabolites and nutritional compounds that help in suppressing a range of diseases and act as antidiabetic, anticancerous, antimicrobial, antioxidant antihelminthic, antitumorous, antimutagenic, antiHIV, antifertility, abortifacient, and antimicrobial source (Bakare et al., 2010; Singh et al., 2012; Joseph and Jini, 2013; Ozusaglam and Karakoca, 2013 ).
Where is Momordica charantia grown?
It is a widely grown and consumed vegetable in Asia, East Africa, India, and South America.
What does a sage plant look like?
The plant grows as a climbing perennial and all parts of the plant, including its fruit, are bitter. The fruit resembles a warty gourd or cucumber with the young fruit being an emerald green color that turns orange-yellow when ripe ( Fig. 35.1 ).
Is bitter gourd a fruit?
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a popular vegetable/fruit in many countries. Research output in recent years has shed light on the multifarious health benefits of bitter gourd seeds, fruits, leaves, and other parts of the plant. These effects encompass antidiabetic, antiobesity, antitumor, antifungal, anti-HIV, and antibacterial activities.
Is bitter gourd oil antibacterial?
These effects encompass antidiabetic, antiobesity, antitumor, antifungal, anti-HIV, and antibacterial activities. Most of the plant parts, especially the seeds, contain oil. Bitter gourd seed oil is rich in stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, and it exhibits antidiabetic and antitumor activities.
Where is bitter gourd grown?
Momordica charantia ( colloquially: bitter melon; bitter apple; bitter gourd; bitter squash; balsam-pear; with many more names listed below) is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit.
What is bitter melon?
Bitter melon comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The cultivar common in China is 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) long, oblong with bluntly tapering ends and pale green in colour, with a gently undulating, warty surface. The bitter melon more typical of India has a narrower shape with pointed ends, and a surface covered with jagged, triangular "teeth" and ridges. It is green to white in colour. Between these two extremes are any number of intermediate forms. Some bear miniature fruit of only 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) in length, which may be served individually as stuffed vegetables. These miniature fruit are popular in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and other countries in South Asia. The sub-continent variety is most popular in Bangladesh and India.
What is the shape of Momordica charantia?
Pollen grains of Momordica charantia. The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape . It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith. The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow.
Where did bitter melon originate?
Bitter melon originated in Africa where it was a dry-season staple food of ǃKung hunter-gatherers. Wild or semi-domesticated variants spread across Asia in prehistory, and it was likely fully domesticated in Southeast Asia. It is widely used in the cuisines of East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Is bitter melon good for diabetes?
However, multiple reviews have found that Momordica charantia does not significantly decrease fasting blood glucose levels or A1c, indicators of blood glucose control, when taken in capsule or tablet form. Momordica charantia may be beneficial in diabetes; however, the effects seem to depend on how it is consumed. More studies need to be performed in order to verify this effect. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center concludes that bitter melon "cannot be recommended as a replacement therapy for insulin or hypoglycemic drugs".
Can you eat bitter melon raw?
The young shoots and leaves of the bitter melon may also be eaten as greens. The fruit is very bitter raw and can be soaked in cold water and drained to remove some of those strong flavours.
Is bitter melon a loanword?
Bitter melon has many names in other languages, which have sometimes entered English as loanwords. Following are a few:
What is bitter gourd?
Bitter gourd is a green-skinned vegetable with white to translucent flesh and a taste that fits its name. Unless you grew up with bitter gourd as part of your regular diet, it might take you a while to warm up to the bitter flavor.
What are the compounds in bitter gourd?
Diabetes management. Bitter gourd contains bioactive compounds called saponins and terpenoids.
What is the name of the bitter fruit?
It is equally known as bitter melon, bitter cucumber, balsam-pear, bitter apple, or bitter squash. This vegetable is also called karela in India, nigauri in Japan, goya in Okinawa, ampalaya in the Philippines, and ku-gua throughout China. Momordica charantia likely originated in eastern India or southern China.
How much sodium is in bitter gourd?
Sodium: 6 milligrams. Bitter gourd is rich in a number of important antioxidants as well. In fact, half a cup of fresh bitter gourd accounts for about 93% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C. The younger the fruit, the more vitamin C it contains. Raw bitter gourd contains a variety of vitamins and minerals:
Where did Momordica come from?
Momordica charantia likely originated in eastern India or southern China. It favors hot and humid climates with plenty of sunshine and regular water access. Today, you can find bitter gourd growing in fields across Asia, though it has also become popular in the Caribbean and South America.
Why are my bitter gourds turning orange?
Bitter gourds are harvested when immature, which is why they appear green to green-yellow in produce aisles. They turn a pale orange when fully mature, but they also lose much of their nutritional value at this point.
What is the difference between Chinese and Indian cucumbers?
The Chinese variety more closely resembles a pale green cucumber with crimped, bumpy skin. The Indian variety has narrow, tapered ends and sharp, angled ridges all over its surface. The differences between these varieties are mostly visual, and both offer similar flavor and health benefits.
What is bitter gourd?
Bitter melon, balsam pear, or most commonly referred to as bitter gourd, is a unique fruit-vegetable combination that is consumed widely. It is an edible pod that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family that also includes cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelon, squash, and more.
Where are bitter gourds grown?
Bitter gourds are mostly cultivated in tropical parts of the world, such as Asia, South America, and Africa.
How to eat bitter gourd for obesity?
The best way to consume bitter gourd for obesity is by drinking the raw juice.
How much bitter gourd is good for weight loss?
Bitter gourd qualifies as a weight loss food due to its basic yet remarkable nutrient profile. 100 grams of raw bitter gourd contains only 16 calories, 0.15 grams of fat, 0.93 grams of protein and 2.6 grams of fiber. Thus, it ensures that you feel satiated without adding extra pounds to your weight. The nutrients help boost the overall metabolism and the fiber content keeps you full for hours, thus aiding in healthy digestion and avoiding binging on junk and unhealthy snacks. The best way to consume bitter gourd for obesity is by drinking the raw juice.
What are the nutrients in bitter gourd?
Bitter gourd contains lycopene, lignans, and carotenoids, along with good amounts of vitamin A, zea-xanthin and lutein, which are the primary antioxidants and nutrients that fight and scavenge these free radicals. This ultimately reduces the formation of tumors in your body. 6. Regulate Cholesterol.
Why is bitter gourd important?
Bitter gourd is an essential dietary element that can help you keep your health intact and free of diseases. Apart from its bitter taste, it is packed with nutrients and essential minerals, which are necessary for your well being.
What is the bitterest vegetable?
It is an edible pod that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family that also includes cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelon, squash, and more. It is considered the most bitter tasting amongst all culinary vegetables and fruits.
