Momordica charantia powder ( Karela )
ลูกมะระขี้นกผง
ลูกมะระขี้นกผง, Karela Powder , Bitter gourd Powder, 200  grams
 
Potential uses of Karela:
Introduction:
Karela, also known as Momordica charantia L., belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as balsam pear, bitter gourd, bitter melon, karela, or kugua. Its fruit has been used as a vegetable for thousands of years. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is called ‘bitter melon’ or ‘bitter gourd’ as the entire plant, including the fruit, tastes very bitter. Karela is widely cultivated in countries like India, China, Japan, Malaya, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Colombia, Brazil, Amazon, Cuba, East Africa, Haiti, Ghana, Mexico, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Middle East, Central and South America
Potential uses of Karela for diabetes:
The Karela extract is traditionally used as vegetable insulin as it might have antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Its antidiabetic effect is tested in both animals and humans. When tested in an animal model, the entire plant, including fruit pulp and seed, showed potential antidiabetic property. Its fruit was found to have more potential effects on diabetes. It might either control the release of insulin or may change the metabolism of glucose.5
Karela contains a few chemicals, including glycoside, charantin, vicine, karavilosides, and polypeptide-p (plant insulin). These chemicals might improve blood sugar levels by raising the glucose uptake and synthesis of glycogen in the liver, fat, and muscles cells.6 Kindly consult a doctor for the proper diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions such as diabetes. Please do not sefl-medicate.
Potential uses of Karela for antioxidant properties:
The phenolic compounds in karela are a potentially excellent natural source of food antioxidants. Phenolic compounds might have the ability to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and the incidence of heart-related diseases and cancer.5 However, more research is required.
Potential uses of Karela for cancer:
The karela extract might help modify the signalling pathways involved in breast cancer. It might block the growth of breast cancer cells and may be used as a dietary supplement to help against breast cancer. The fruits, green leaves, stems, and seeds of karela have several active proteins and steroids. These proteins might have potential anticancer activity.5 However, serious conditions such as cancer should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Therefore, consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.
Potential uses of Karela for malaria:
Asians, Colombians, and Panamanians have traditionally known karela as a helpful plant against malaria. Various studies have confirmed that several species of karela might have antimalarial properties.6
Potential uses of Karela for healing wounds:
A series of abnormalities linked with diabetes and delayed wound healing are lowered immune response, reduced formation of new blood vessels, deficiency of growth factors, and reduced production of collagen. When karela fruit ointment was applied to the rat (diabetic rat), it showed a potential to improve wound closure and may help enhance a gene that helps in cell growth. Therefore, it might be beneficial for the healing of the wound.1 However, more research is required to prove such effects on humans.
Though there are studies that show the Potential uses of karela in various conditions, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of karela on human health.