These are the morphological and microscopical characteristics of Bittergourd ( Indian Karela )

1. Roll no. 43,44,45,46,47,48
1

2. •Biological source- Karela consists
of fresh green fruits of the plant
known as Momordica charantia.
•Botanical name – Momordica
charantia
•Family – Cucurbitaceae (
Pumpkin family)
•Synonyms – Momordica muricata,
Momordica zeylanica, Momordica
charantia var. muricata
2

3. 3

4. 4

5. COLOUR DARK GREEN
TASTE INTENSELY BITTER
APPEARANCE DISTINCT WARTY
EXTERIOR AND AN
OBLONG SHAPE OF
THE FRUIT
ODOUR CHARACTERISTIC
5

6. 6

7. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF BITTER GOURD:
The leaves and fruits of bitter gourd contains charantin.
Charantin is a steroidal saponin and it has blood sugar
lowering activity.
These fruits also contain a cathartic principle known as
momordicin.
Other constituents in the drug are carbohydrates, mineral
matter, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, glucoside,saponins and
mucilage.
Reference: Kokate
7

8. PHYSICALAND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF KARELA
 Green,elongated,longitudinally grooved,ridged and warty
exterior.
 Consisting of large cotyledons and short straight radicle
Sr
no.
Physical parameters Obtained
values in
% w/w
1 Total ash 7%
2 Acid insoluble ash 0.2%
Water soluble ash 3.775%
Sulfated ash 8.14%
Alcohol soluble extractive 20.0%
Water soluble extractive 37.6%
Petroleum water soluble extractive 6.64%
Chloroform soluble extractive 5.6% 8

9. The main fatty acid was determined
as α-eleostearic (45.60%). The
other fatty acids were palmitic
(3.69%), stearic (28.00%), oleic
(12.45%), linoleic (8.90%),
arachidic (0.71%) and gadoleic
acids (0.65%).
9

10. CHEMICAL TESTS
• It contains carbohydrates, reducing sugars, saponins,
phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids.
• Molisch test- positive (carbohydrates)
• Fehling’s and Benedict's test- positive(reducing
sugar)
• Thin layer chromatography (TLC) done to study
variety of phytochemicals.
10

11. Karela is used in the form of extracts and health
drinks as an antidiabetic agent. (diabetes mellitus)
 Stomachic, carminative, tonic and cooling and also
used for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, and
disorders of spleen and liver.
 anthelmintic and anti-cancer properties
REF: BIREN SHAH& KOKATE
13

12. Substitutes
Wax gourd ( WINTER MELON)
14

13. REFERENCES:
•BIREN SHAH
•KOKATE
•(Int. J. of Pharm. Life Sci.) C. Reetesh , K. Washid, S. Nisha
and P. Rekha
15