Bitter Gourd Seeds

(Momordica charantia) is a popular vegetable/fruit in many countries. Research output in recent years has shed light on the multifarious health benefits of bitter gourd seeds, fruits, leaves, and other parts of the plant. These effects encompass antidiabetic, antiobesity, antitumor, antifungal, anti-HIV, and antibacterial activities. Most of the plant parts, especially the seeds, contain oil. Bitter gourd seed oil is rich in stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, and it exhibits antidiabetic and antitumor activities. In view of the fact that bitter gourd is a common dietary component and its safety has been demonstrated, studies on bitter melon essential oil are interesting and have promising commercial applications.