Senanayake, G. V., Maruyama, M., Sakono, M., Fukuda, N., Morishita, T., Yukizaki, C., Kawano, M., and Ohta, H. The effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extracts on serum and liver lipid parameters in hamsters fed cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diets. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 2004;50(4):253-257. View abstract.

Dans AM, Villarruz MV, Jimeno CA, et al. The effect of Momordica charantia capsule preparation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus needs further studies. J Clin Epidemiol 2007;60:554-9. View abstract. Surgery: Stop using karela at least two weeks before any surgery. Karela might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery.It is also known that bitter melon contains a lectin that reduces blood glucose concentrations by acting on peripheral tissues and suppressing appetite – similar to the effects of insulin in the brain Ng, T. B., Wong, C. M., Li, W. W., and Yeung, H. W. Isolation and characterization of a galactose binding lectin with insulinomimetic activities. From the seeds of the bitter gourd Momordica charantia (Family Cucurbitaceae). Int J Peptide Protein Res 1986;28(2):163-172. View abstract. Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003;60:356-9. View abstract. Somasagara RR, Deep G, Shrotriya S, Patel M, Agarwal C, Agarwal R. Bitter melon juice targets molecular mechanisms underlying gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. Int J Oncol. 2015;46(4):1849-57. View abstract.

Stepka W, Wilson KE, and Madge GE. Antifertility investigation on Momordica. Lloydia 1974;37(4):645. A number of clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bitter melon in the treatment of diabetes Baldwa VS, Bhandara CM, Pangaria A, and et al. Clinical trials in patients with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-like compound obtained from plant source. Upsala J Med Sci 1977;82:39-41. It is the edible part of the plant Momordica Charantia, which is a vine of the Cucurbitaceae family and is considered the most bitter among all fruits and vegetables.Karela is highly beneficial in treating skin diseases like boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ringworm and other fungal diseases. Have a cupful of fresh karela juice with a teaspoonful of lime juice on an empty stomach for 4-6 months to relieve these chronic skin diseases. Gupta M, Sharma S, Gautam AK, Bhadauria R. Momordica charantia linn. (Karela): Nature’s silent healer. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2011;11(1):32–7. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285966662_Momordica_charantia_linn_Karela_Nature’s_silent_healer Soo May L, Sanip Z, Ahmed Shokri A, Abdul Kadir A, Md Lazin MR. The effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) supplementation in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis: A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;32:181-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.06.012. View abstract. Karela has been used in our country since ages to help in regulating blood sugar levels in diabetics. It contains compounds “charantin” and “vicine”, which have glucose lowering properties. It also contains polypeptide-p, which has insulin-like properties i.e. it increases glucose absorption by cells of the body and reduces blood glucose levels. These substances, either work individually or together and help reducing blood sugar levels. Karela also has lectin, which acts on cells and tissues of our body and increases their sugar intake and it also suppresses appetite by acting on the brain.

It provides folate, which is essential for growth and development, as well as smaller amounts of potassium, zinc, and iron ( 4). Ng, T. B., Wong, C. M., Li, W. W., and Yeung, H. W. Insulin-like molecules in Momordica charantia seeds. J Ethnopharmacol. 1986;15(1):107-117. View abstract.

Key ingredients

Leung SO, Yeung HW, Leung KN. The immunosuppressive activities of two abortifacient proteins isolated from the seeds of bitter melon (Momordica charantia). Immunopharmacol 1987;13:159-71. View abstract.

Allergy: Avoid karela if you have a known allergy to karela or any member of the family Cucurbitaceae, including honeydew, casaba, Persian melon, cantaloupe, and muskmelon. Signs of allergy are itching, shortness of breath, or rash. 4 A 3-month study in 24 adults with diabetes showed that taking 2,000 mg of bitter melon daily decreased blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c, a test used to measure blood sugar control over three months ( 7). Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Verma Y, et al. Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytother Res 1993;7:285-9.One of the popular ways to consume karela is to make karela juice. Cut the karela into small pieces, remove the seeds, and blend it with water. Add other fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, and ginger, to the juice to make it more palatable. Takemoto, D. J., Jilka, C., and Kresie, R. Purification and characterization of a cytostatic factor from the bitter melon Momordica charantia. Prep.Biochem 1982;12(4):355-375. View abstract.