What is Momordica balsamina used for?
Momordica balsamina has historically been used to manage various conditions including diabetes, hemorrhoids, jaundice, stomach and intestinal complaints, viral infections and even inducing labor. As a medical agent, balsam of Peru is used in the local treatment of burns and wounds as an antiseptic. It is also used as an expectorant, heart stimulant to increase blood pressure and as a parasiticide.
What is Momordica used for?
Moreover, Momordica preparations are given for the treatment of gonorrhea, measles, chicken pox, scabies and malaria. In the Caribbean area, it is administered as a leaf decoction or fruit juice for the treatment of diabetes. Momordica balsamina has proven anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, hepatoprotective, and lipid- reducing effects [33–35]. Given its medicinal and ‘therapeutic’ effects, different parts of this plant are widely used in various forms to treat or prevent many diseases (Fig.
What is Momordica good for?
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a vine originally from India and other Asian countries. It has been traditionally used to treat diabetes. Bitter melon contains a chemical that acts like insulin to help reduce blood sugar levels. Momordica charantia (commonly called bitter melon, gouya, cerassee, goya, bitter apple, bitter gourd, bitter squash, balsam-pear, karela, karavila and 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.
How to eat Momordica balsamina?
The leaves and young fruits of Momordica balsamina are cooked and eaten as a vegetable in Cameroon, Sudan and southern Africa. The bitter young fruits have been reported widely as edible, whereas the ripe fruits cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and can be poisonous. Momordica balsamina, African pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae), is a tendril-bearing, wild climber containing wide spectrum of medicinal and nutritional values and has been used as a traditional folk medicine in many countries.