skip navigation, jump to main contentDorothy Bradley Atkins Medicinal Plant Garden, College of Pharmacy, UIC

Bitter melon; balsam-apple (Momordica charantia L.)

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Medicinal uses: Treats diabetes Type 2, HIV, and cancer

Part used medicinally: Fruit; leaf

Native origin: Tropical

Momordica charantia L.

Momordica charantia L.

Photos: D. Doel Soejarto, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago