Written by: Katarina Subotich

Common name: Cundeamor, Bitter melon

Botanical name: Momordica charantia.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Cundeamor grows in Caribbean, Amazon and other parts of South America, Asia and Africa. It is climbing annual vine with long leaves and green fruit, which when ripe, turns its color into yellow- orange. When mature, the fruit will split into three parts releasing the red seeds. All parts of the plant are bitter.

In Amazon, people use cundeamor as food and medicine. In this part of the world it is used for diabetes, to expel warms and intestinal  gas, hepatitis and fevers. Brazilians use it for tumors, inflammations, vaginal discharge, diabetes and warms. Mexicans consider the roots to have reputed aphrodisiac properties, while Peruvian medicine people use it to treat measles and malaria. In Nicaragua it is common remedy for diabetes and hypertension.

Numerous studies have clinically demonstrated that cundeamor contains  chemicals, known as charantins, alkaloids and insulin like peptides,  that help lower blood sugar. The fruit has shown the ability to enhance cells’ uptake of glucose, as well as to lower cholesterol. 

Leaf extracts are found to have antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumorous  activity.

Products containing cundeamor: Cundeamor extract.