Names:

  • General: Balsm pear; African cucumber; Bitter gourd
  • Hausa: Garafuni
  • Igbo: Akpana udele; Ube abaka; Ube-osa; Ube-okpoko; Ube-okwe
  • Yoruba:  Ejinrin; Ejirin-wẹ́wẹ́;  ìgbólé ajá; akara ajẹ

Description:

It is an annual climber that can grow beyond 5m. The stem is ridged, herbaceous with the young parts densely hairy and the older branches more or less pubescent. The broad leaves are ovate-reniform, almost orbicular in outline, with lobes that are ovate-oblong with acute or subacute, apiculate measuring between 25-100mm long and 30-125mm broad. They are glabrous or pubescent especially on the nerves on both surfaces and palmate with 3, 5, or 7 lobes that are obovate in outline and narrows towards the base. It has tendrils that are simple.

The flowers are monoecious, male flowers are slender, solitary, peduncles that measure about 5-28mm long and are glabrous or slightly pubescent; with corolla that are somewhat irregular, lemon yellow in colour and bears an apical 3–15 mm long 4–22 mm broad suborbicular apiculate clasping green bract. The female flowers have long (2-50mm) slender peduncles, bearing an apical broadly ovate or suborbicular broad sessile bract that measures about 10–100 mm long usually at or near the base.

The fruit hangs pendulously on a stalk that could be over 150mm in length. It is broadly ovoid, beaked, ellipsoid, and could be up to 110mm long and 40mm broad. It is green in colour when young and turns orange when it ripens. When dried, the fruit makes a characteristic sound because of the seeds that are trapped in the spongy mass within the fruit.

The seeds are compressed, oblong, testa sculptured, sub-bidentate at the base and apex, cream or grey in colour.

Cultivation/Propagation

  • It is propagated by seeds, which grow very easily in most soil types.
  • In Nigeria, it is rarely cultivated as it grows like a weed in most environments.

Medicinal Benefits

  • It supports the digestive system to improve its processes and stimulates appetite and it is used for managing gastrointestinal (GIT) disorders and serves as an emetic, purgative, anthelminthic, anti-haemorrhoid, and anti-flatulent agent. It stimulates the secretion of bile juice by the liver which is essential for fat metabolism; and helps in improving the peristaltic movements of the GIT.
  • It is known to possess hypoglycemic, astringent, antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, anti-pyretic, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, antihelmintic, blood cleansing, immune boosting, hormone regulatory, detoxification, aphrodisiac, galactagogue properties.
  • Used for the management of diabetes, as it contains a compound that is very much similar to insulin and referred as p-insulin and also contains steroidal saponins called charantin, peptides similar to that of peptides and certain alkaloids that effectively control sugar level in blood.
  • It contains good amounts of essential vitamins like betacarotene, vitamin A, thiamine, foliate, riboflavin, vitamin C and also minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, potassium, magnesium, zinc and dietary fiber.
  • The leaf extracts have clinically been shown to provide an immune-stimulant effects against viral infections particularly HIV and has an ability to treat various viral diseases.
  • Used in the management of eye disorders and improving eyesight due to the beta carotene constituent.
  • Used in the treatment of acute and chronic indigestion, as it promotes the secretion of gastric acid.
  • Used in the treatment for fevers, cold and flu, malaria, cancer, high cholesterol, and psoriasis.
  • It is low in calories and high in fiber, making it an excellent food for weight management.
  • Used for detoxifying the body, prevention of jaundice and treatment of a hangover.
  • Used for the treatment of respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma.
  • Used for the treatment of boils sores, eczema, leprosy and large wounds.
  • Regular use boosts body stamina and prevents chronic fatigue.
  • Used to treat hypertension, malaria, fevers and headaches.
  • Used for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.
  • Used for ameliorating menstrual pains in girls.

Other Benefits:

  • The melon is usually consumed cooked in the green or early yellowing stage. The young shoots and leaves of the bitter melon may also be eaten as greens.
  • The fruit is bitter raw and can be soaked in cold water and drained to remove some of those strong flavours.
  • In some cultures, the fresh fruit is stuffed with meat or other fillings and eaten raw or cooked. 
  • The dried spongy inside of the fruit is used as a sponge for washing household items.

How it is Used:

  • To make the Juice, wash the leaves and chop them, Add 6 tablespoon of the chopped leaves in 750ml of water and boil for approximately 15 minutes in an uncovered pot. Drink 100ml of it thrice a day for the treatment of diabetes type 2.
  • For the treatment of skin diseases and infestations, one cup of the juice laced with a teaspoonful of lime juice is taken every morning for the treatment of scabies, ringworm and psoriasis, etc. and for the prevention of leprosy.
  • For the treatment of pile (haemorrhoid), 3 teaspoonful of the fresh juice is added to a glassful of buttermilk and taken on empty stomach for about 30 days. The paste made from the leaves is applied externally to the haemorrhoid.
  • For the management of irregular menstruation, the whole plant is blended with a small quantity of Baphia nitida (Camwood) to a smooth powder. Two teaspoonful are mixed with pap and taken twice daily.
  • For the management of diarrhoea due to cholera and other infections, the juice of the leaves is mixed with juice from spring onions and lemon. The resultant juice is taken twice daily.
  • The fresh fruit can be chopped into bits and steeped in hot water and taken as tea. The fresh or dried leaves can be steeped in hot water and taken as tea also.
  • The leaves and fruit extract are used topically in creams for skin diseases.  
  • The dried leaves are pulverized and capsulated or made into tablets.

Reported Side Effects/Caution:

  • Since the juice stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, it should be taken with caution by persons suffering from peptic ulcer disease.
  • The juice is known to stimulate the uterine muscles and have abortificient properties, as such it should be avoided by pregnant women.
  • It should be avoided by persons with hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), and by diabetics who are on antidiaetic drugs.
  • Excessively high doses of the juice can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.  
  • It should be avoided by persons with known allergy to bitter gourd.

References: