# Bitter Gourd

Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/bitter-gourd/

> Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) is a plant drug, also called Karavellam, Karavellakah and Susavi. Polypeptide-p (p-insulin) is degraded by gastric proteases, limited oral bioavailability for the intact peptide (enteric coating helps). Vicine and charantin are better absorbed from juice than powder form.

## Key facts

- **Botanical name:** Momordica charantia
- **Family:** Cucurbitaceae

## Names in the Indian languages

Every name form this project holds for this drug, with the script form first and the
transliteration after it. Sources per name are on the canonical page.

| Language | Names |
| --- | --- |
| Sanskrit | कारवेल्लम् (kāravellam), कारवेल्लकः (kāravellakaḥ), सुषवी (suṣavī) |
| Hindi | करेला (karelā) |
| Tamil | பாகல், பாகற்காய் |

## Names and identification

| Language | Name |
|----------|------|
| English | Bitter Gourd |

## Dosage forms and preparation

**Dosage Forms:** Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (powder), Capsule, Tablet, Kwath Ghana (concentrated extract), Tincture

**Standard Dosage:** 30-60ml fresh juice daily; 1-3g powder twice daily; 500mg standardized extract capsule twice daily; traditionally, fruit consumed as vegetable in diet

**Optimal Timing:** Traditionally taken early morning on an empty stomach; 30 minutes before meals; fresh juice preferred over dried forms

**Storage:** Fresh juice under refrigeration (2-8°C) in glass containers. Powder in airtight containers with desiccant and nitrogen flushing. Protect from moisture and heat.

**Marker Compounds:** Charantin, Momordicin, Vicine, Polypeptide-p, Cucurbitacin B, Momordicoside A-F, Goyaglycoside a-d, Beta-[sitosterol](/glossary/compounds-q-t/#sitosterol)

### Synergistic Combinations

- Traditionally combined with Meshashringi (Gymnema sylvestre) for blood sugar support
- Traditionally combined with [Methi](/herb/methi/) (fenugreek) for blood sugar support
- With [Haridra](/herb/haridra/) ([turmeric](/herb/turmeric/)) for metabolic syndrome
- Traditionally combined with [Jambu](/herb/jambu/) (Syzygium cumini) in blood sugar formulations
- Traditionally combined with [Neem](/herb/neem/) for blood purification

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Canonical version of this page: https://nighantu.ageayurveda.com/herb/bitter-gourd/

## Sources

- Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database (700+ herbs, CC-BY-4.0)
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

Published by Age Ayurveda in the Nighantu. Educational reference only, not medical advice.
Incorporates material from the Amidha Ayurveda Herb Database under CC BY 4.0.