“The plant is reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. The plant extract inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy and inhibiting cancer stem cells. The plant is rich in bioactive chemical constituents like cucurbitane type triterpenoids, triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, fatty acids, and proteins. Some of the isolated compounds (Kuguacin J, Karaviloside XI, Kuguaglycoside C, Momordicoside Q–U, Charantin, α-eleostearic acid) and proteins (α-Momorcharin, RNase MC2, MAP30) possess potent biological activity. In the present review, we are summarizing the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities of Momordica charantia along with a short account of important chemical constituents, providing a basis for establishing detail biological activities of the plant and developing novel drug molecules based on the active chemical constituents.”
“MC has been cultivated traditionally in developing countries like India, China, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Haiti, Mexico, Malaya, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru, and is commonly used for the treatment of diabetes and colics [12–13]. MC is also used as antiviral, anti-malarial, and anti-bacterial agent, while it is applied for wound healing and treatment of peptic ulcers in Traditional Turkish medicine. In Indian medicinal systems, MC is reported to possess anti-diabetic, abortifacient, anti- helminthic, anti-malarial, and laxative properties, while it is also used for treatment of dysmenorrhea, emmenagogue, eczema, gout, galactagogue, kidney (stone), jaundice, leucorrhea, leprosy, pneumonia, piles, rheumatism, and psoriasis [14].”
“Various extracts of MC are studied for biological activities, including anti-oxidant [15], anti-diabetic [16], anti-cancer [17], anti-inflammatory [18], anti-bacterial [19], antifungal [20], anti-viral [21], anti-HIV [22], anti-helminthic [23], anti-mycobac-terial [24], hypotensive [25], anti-obesity [26], immunomodulatory [27], anti-hyperlipidemic [28], hepatoprotective [29], and neuropro-tective [30] activities. Several chemical constituents such as cucurbitane type triterpenoids, cucurbitane type glycosides, triterpene saponins, phenolic, and flavonoid compounds, and some protein fractions have been isolated from MC [31]. In the present review, we are summarizing some of the important reports dealing with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti- cancer activities of MC along with its reported chemical constituents and their biological activities.”
https://draxe.com/nutrition/bitter-melon/
• Managing blood sugar levels and diabetes
• Reducing respiratory infections such as pneumonia
• Lowering inflammation and raising immunity
• Treating abdominal pain, peptic ulcers, constipation, cramps and fluid retention
• Increasing cancer-protection
• Reducing fevers and coughs
• Lowering menstrual irregularity
• Treating skin conditions including eczema, scabies and psoriasis
• Antiviral, antibacterial and anthelmintic properties (including those that can be used to prevent or treat parasites, HIV/AIDS, malaria and even leprosy)
• Treating gout, jaundice and kidney stones
• Managing symptoms of autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bitter-melon
“6 Benefits of Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd) and Its Extract”
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/bitter-melon-and-diabetes
“Bitter Melon and Diabetes”
Best product I found considering price/performance is called Jarrow Glucose Optimizer:
https://jarrow.com/products/glucose-optimizer-120-tablets
(You can find it for about $20 elsewhere)
Agreed. I was thinking the vegetable. They're very easy to grow.
I may try them, though they seem to like warm conditions. Our UK summers are variable.