Bitter Gourd
Momordica charantia
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.
| Botanical name | Momordica charantia |
|---|---|
| Family | Cucurbitaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Cucurbitales |
| Also known as | Bitter Gourd, BitterGourd |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2874581 · Wikidata Q428750 · NCBI Taxonomy 3673 |
| Sanskrit | कारवेल्लम् (kāravellam), कारवेल्लकः (kāravellakaḥ), सुषवी (suṣavī) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | करेला (karelā) |
| Tamil | பாகல், பாகற்காய் |
Sources: DDSA: University of Madras Tamil Lexicon, Pākal (பாகல்): 'balsam-pear, a climber, Momordica charantia' (cf. Kannada hāgal, Malayalam pāval); Flowers of India gives Tamil பாகற்காய் for the fruit.; Flowers of India (Bitter Gourd) Sanskrit list: कारवेल्लकः, कटिल्लः, परारु, सुषवी, ऊर्ध्वासितः.; Flowers of India (Bitter Gourd): 'Sanskrit: कारवेल्लकः kaarvellakah'; wisdomlib Ayurveda: 'Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक) or Kareli — Momordica charantia', 17th-century Vaidyavallabha of Hastiruci.; Flowers of India (Bitter Gourd): 'Tamil: இராசவள்ளி iraca-valli, பாகற்காய் pAgakkai'.; Flowers of India, Bitter Gourd page (Momordica charantia): 'Hindi: करेला Karela, कठिल्ल kathilla, परारु poraru', alongside Gujarati કારેલું, Bengali করলা, Urdu کريلا.; Śabda-Sāgara (via wisdomlib): 'Kāravella (कारवेल्ल).—m. A kind of gourd, (Momordica charantia)'; Apte: 'Kāravella — Name of a bitter vegetable… See also kāravellaka'; wisdomlib Ayurveda: 'Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक) or Kareli — Momordica charantia', from the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha of Hastiruci; Flowers of India gives Sanskrit कारवेल्लकः.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2003 to 2024, 11 with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 9Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
This entry and karvellaka describe the same drug, Momordica charantia, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use, and each is cited as itself.
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
Synergistic Combinations
- Traditionally combined with Meshashringi (Gymnema sylvestre) for blood sugar support
- Traditionally combined with Methi (fenugreek) for blood sugar support
- With Haridra (turmeric) for metabolic syndrome
- Traditionally combined with Jambu (Syzygium cumini) in blood sugar formulations
- Traditionally combined with Neem for blood purification
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2021. Clinical trials with plants in diabetes mellitus therapy: a systematic reviewExpert review of clinical pharmacology. PMID 33884948 · doi:10.1080/17512433.2021.1917380
Randomised controlled trials2
- 2020. Hypoglycemic efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitusComplementary therapies in medicine. PMID 32951763 · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102524
- 2003. Effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn) on level and function of natural killer cells in cervical cancer patients with radiotherapyJournal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet. PMID 12678140
Other clinical studies and reviews9
- 2024. Momordica charantia Bioactive Components: Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Benefits Through Gut Health ModulationJournal of medicinal food. PMID 38770678 · doi:10.1089/jmf.2024.k.0037
- 2024. Therapeutic Potential of Momordicine I from Momordica charantia: Cardiovascular Benefits and MechanismsInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 39408847 · doi:10.3390/ijms251910518
- 2023. Role of Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Curcuma longa, Berberine and Momordica charantia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment: A ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37111272 · doi:10.3390/ph16040515
- 2023. The Management of Diabetes Mellitus Using Medicinal Plants and VitaminsInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 37240430 · doi:10.3390/ijms24109085
- 2023. The Role of Bitter Melon in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Prevention and TherapyInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 37240264 · doi:10.3390/ijms24108918
- 2022. Momordica charantia L.-Diabetes-Related Bioactivities, Quality Control, and Safety ConsiderationsFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 35656300 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.904643
- 2022. Immunomodulatory effects and associated mechanisms of Momordica charantia and its phytochemicalsFood & function. PMID 36350105 · doi:10.1039/d2fo02096c
- 2022. Bioactives of Momordica charantia as Potential Anti-Diabetic/Hypoglycemic AgentsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35408574 · doi:10.3390/molecules27072175
- 2021. Momordica Charantia: A Review of Its Effects on Metabolic Diseases and Mechanisms of ActionJournal of medicinal food. PMID 33733863 · doi:10.1089/jmf.2020.0206
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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