Karela is a bitter green fruit that grows on a vine known as Momordica charantia. It is commonly cultivated in South Asian countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The fruit has a dark green color and intensely bitter taste. It contains compounds like charantin and momordicin that are believed to lower blood sugar levels and have other medicinal properties like treating rheumatism, improving blood circulation, and potentially preventing cancer. Karela is traditionally used to treat disorders of the spleen, liver, and as a stomachic and carminative.

1. KARELA
Prepared by :
Deepak Shukla
(I.C.P.R)

2. Syno:
• Bitter gourd
• Bitter melon
• Momordica
• Carilla fruit
• Pakal

3. Biological Source
• It is a fresh green fruit obtain from the plant known as
Momordica charantia Linn…
• Family : Cucurbitaceae

4. Cultivation
• It is a annual or perennial vine found in allover INDIA,
Nepal, Bangladesh, pakistan and other south Asian
countries.
• It is a climber plant.
• Grown in warm season (april-july).
• Seeds are sow in soils with upto half meter hole.
• Manures and pesticides are used and watering is done.
• Plant begin to flower after 30-35 days and fruits are
ready for harvesting after 15-20 days.

5. Macroscopic characters
• Color : dark green to whitish green
• Odour : characteristic
• Taste : intensely BITTER
• Size : 5-30 cm long and 2-5 cm broad
SHAPE
• Fruit : pendulous, fusiform and beaked. Karela consist of
numerous tubercles and brown seeds
• Stem : slender and pubescent
• Leaves : sub-orbicular, 5-7 lobes, pubescent
• Flowers : solitary

7. Chemical Constituents
• Charantin : steroidal saponin (lowers blood sugar
level)
• Momordicin : cathartic use(purgative) –leaves
• Carbohydrates-10%, ascorbic acid, mineral-1.5%
• Glycosides, mucilage and alkaloids extra.

8. Struc:
charantin: momordicin:

9. Uses:
• Treatment of rheumatism, gout
• Treat disorders of spleen and liver
• Treat and lowers blood sugar level
• stomachic and carminative use
• Improves blood circulation
• Anti ageing
• Cancer