Bitter Gourd, A Potential Medicinally Important Health Promoting Vegetable for Human: An Illustrative Review

ABOUT AUTHOR
Ganguly Subha*, Biswas Tapas
AICRP on Post Harvest Technology (ICAR),
Department of Fish Processing Technology, Faculty of Fishery Sciences,
West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences,
5, Budherhat Road, P.O. Panchasayar, Chakgaria, Kolkata – 700 094, WB, India

Abstract:
Bitter gourd, bitter melon, or bitter squash, also known as Momordica charantia is well known by many other local and regional names. Goya from the indigenous language of Okinawa and karavella from Sanskrit are also used by English-language speakers. The present article exclusively describes and portrays the health benefitting and other medicinally important properties of the vegetable in promoting human health. There lies the reason for its wide use in Asian and African cuisines.
Key words: Bitter gourd, Human health, Medicinal implications