Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Momordica charantia: a review

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 123 - 132
• Main Authors: Grover, J.K, Yadav, S.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-07-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; literature reviews; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; Momordica charantia; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Potential uses; Review; Traditional medicine; Momordica charantia; Potential uses; Traditional medicine; Pharmacology; Review; Pharmacognosy; Cucurbitaceae; Electrophysiology; Biological activity; Medicinal plant; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.035

Since ancient times, plants and herbal preparations have been used as medicine. Research carried out in last few decades has certified several such claims of use of several plants of traditional medicine. Popularity of
Momordica charantia (MC) in various systems of traditional medicine for several ailments (antidiabetic, abortifacient, anthelmintic, contraceptive, dysmenorrhea, eczema, emmenagogue, antimalarial, galactagogue, gout, jaundice, abdominal pain, kidney (stone), laxative, leprosy, leucorrhea, piles, pneumonia, psoriasis, purgative, rheumatism, fever and scabies) focused the investigator’s attention on this plant. Over 100 studies using modern techniques have authenticated its use in diabetes and its complications (nephropathy, cataract, insulin resistance), as antibacterial as well as antiviral agent (including HIV infection), as anthelmintic and abortifacient. Traditionally it has also been used in treating peptic ulcers, interestingly in a recent experimental studies have exhibited its potential against
Helicobacter pylori. Most importantly, the studies have shown its efficacy in various cancers (lymphoid leukemia, lymphoma, choriocarcinoma, melanoma, breast cancer, skin tumor, prostatic cancer, squamous carcinoma of tongue and larynx, human bladder carcinomas and Hodgkin’s disease). There are few reports available on clinical use of MC in diabetes and cancer patients that have shown promising results.