Momordica charantia L.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Synonyms: Cucumis africanus Lindl., Cucumis argyi H. Lév., Cucumis intermedius M.J. Roem., Momordica anthelmintica Schumach., Momordica balsamina Blanco, Momordica charantia subsp. abbreviata (Ser.) Grebenšč., Momordica charantia var. abbreviata Ser., Momordica charantia var. minor Naud., Momordica chinensis Sprengel, Momordica cylindrica Blanco, Momordica elegans Salisb., Momordica indica L., Momordica jagorana C. Koch, Momordica muricata Willd., Momordica operculata Vell., Momordica senegalensis Lam., Momordica sinensis Spreng., Momordica zeylanica Mill., Sicyos fauriei H. Lév.
Assamese: কেৰেলা karela
Bengali: করলা karala
Burmese : Kyethinkhathee.
Chinese : Ku gua (Cantonese Fu gwa, Foo gwa, Foo kwa), Jin li zhi, Lai pu tao, Ku gua ye, Ku gua ye (Cantonese Foo gwa yip for leaves), Kor kuey (Hokkien - Singapore).
Danish : Balsamagurk, Balsamaeble.
Dutch : Balsempeer.
English: Bitter gourd, Balsam pear, Leprosy pear, Leprosy gourd, Bitter gourd, Bitter cucumber
Finnish : Karvaskurkku.
French : Margose (Réunion, Mauritius Islands), Margose amère, Momordique amère, Concombre amer, Concombre africain.
German : Balsambirne, Bittergurke, Balsamgurke.
Gujarati: કારેલું karelu
Hindi: करेला karela, कठिल्ल kathilla, परारु poraru
Italian : Pomo meraviglia, Momordica amara.
Japanese : Niga uri, Nigai uri, Tsuru reishi, , Tsuru reishi.
Kannada: ಹಾಗಲಕಾಯಿ haagalakaayi
Kashmiri: करेल् karel
Khmer : Mreah.
Konkani: काराते kaaraate
Laotian : Bai maha, Haix, S'aix.
Lushai: chang-kha
Malay : Peria, Daun peria (leaves), Peria laut, Peria katak, Paré (Java), Peparé (Java), Paria (Indonesia).
Malayalam: കയ്പ്പ kayppa, പാവയ്ക്ക pavaykka
Manipuri: কারোন অখাবী karon akhabi
Marathi: आंबलें ambalem, कारली karali, कारेती kareti
Mizo: changkha
Nepalese : Karelaa, Tito karelaa.
Nepalese: अमला amala, करेलो karelo
Oriya: changkha
Punjabi: ਕਰੇਲਾ karela
Sanskrit: कारवेल्लकः kaarvellakah, कटिल्लः kathillah, परारु paraaru, सुषवी sushavi, ऊर्ध्वासितः urdhvaasitah
Sindhi: ڪَريلو karelo
Sinhalese : Karavila, Karawila, Pakal, Pavakai.
Spanish : Bálsamo, Calabaza africana, Cundeamor, Momordica amarga, Pepino amargo.
Swedish : Bittergurka.
Tagalog : Ampalaya.
TAMIL : Pava aki.
Tamil: இராசவள்ளி iraca-valli, பாகற்காய் pagarkkai, pavakkai பாவக்காய்
Telugu: కాకర kakara, kakarakaya కకరకాయ
Thai : Maha, Mara, Phakha.
Tibetan: su sa ba
Tulu: ಕಂಚಲ kanchala
Urdu: کريلا karela
Vietnamese :, , La khoqua (leaves).
Visayan : Palia
Some other names:
Iran : Sinahang; Italian : Balsamini Lunghi, Pomo
Meraviglia, Momordica Amara; Ivory Coast : Acoatiango ( Abure ), Sing Biep (
Adyukru ), Nia-Nia ( Akan-Asante ), Ato M-Bomu ( Akye) , Nia-Nia ( Anyi ),
Bobobo, N’guéné Boué, N’guéré ( Guere ), Nienbélé ( Kru-Bete ), Nania- Nania (
Neyo ), Zagué Zru ( Kru ); German : Balsambirne, Balsamgurke, Bittergurke; Ghana
: Nya-Nya ( Akan-Asante ), Nya-Nya ( Fante ), Nyanylã ( Ga ), Kaklẽ ( Gbe-Vhe
), Nya- Nya, Nyinya ( Tiwi ), Kaklẽ ( Vhe ); Guinea-Bissau : Sancaetano (
Crioulo ), Burbóqui, Buroki ( Fula-Pulaar ), Cassêlaha, Cosselaha ( Jakhankhe
), Isróbódô ( Manding-Mandinka ); Jamaica : Cerasee; Japanese : Gōyā ( Okinawa
), Ki-Uri, Niga Uri, Nigai Uri, Reishi, Tsuru Reishi; Kampuchea : Mreah; Korean
: Yôju; Laos : Bai Mak Phak Sai, Bai Maha, Haix, Phak Hai, S’aix; Liberia : Gã
Gĕ Su Lu ( Mano ); Malaysia : Peria, Peria Laut, Periok; Mali : Lumba-Lumba (
Songhai ), Manamat ( Tamachek ); Mauritius Islands : Margose; Nepal : Karelaa,
Tito Karela; Nigeria : Ndakđì ( Dera ), Dagdaggi, Habiiru, Lele Duji (
Fula-Fulfulde ), Hashinashiap ( Goemai ), Daddagu, Gàraàfúnií, Garahuni ( Huasa
), Iliahia, Ilialihia ( Igala ), Kakayi, Akban Ndene ( Igbo ), Dàgdág q (
Kanuri ), Akara Aje, Ejìnrìn, Ejìnrìn Nla, Ejìnrìn Wẹẹri, Ejirin, Ejirin-Wé.wé.
, Ìgbólé Ajá ( Yoruba ); Norwegian : Balsamfrukt, Bitter Gord, Bitteragurk,
Bittermelon; Pakistan : Karelā ( Urdu ); Palau : Markoso; Panama : Balsamino; Persian
: Komboze; Philippines : Marigoso, Paria ( Bikol ), Palia ( Bontok ), Palia (
Bisaya ), Apape ( Ibanag ), Palia ( Ifugao), Paria ( Iloko), Apapet ( Itogon),
Aplia ( Pampangan ), Paria, Saligun ( Sulu ), Pulia ( Subanun ), Ampalaya,
Ampalia, Apalaya, Margoso ( Tagalog); Polish : Przepękla Ogórkowata; Portuguese
: Melão-De-São-Caetano; Puerto Rico : Cun De Amor, Machete; Réunion : Margose (
French ); Senegal : Beurbŏh ( Fula-Tukulor ), Zara ( Manding-Bambara ), M-Barböf,
M-Burböf, Yombebute ( Wolof) ; Sierra Leone : Sapodila ( Krio ), Kuru-Kurinyi (
Susu ), Agini ( Vulgar); Singapore : Kor Kuey ( Hokkien ); Slovašcina :
Momordika; Spanish : Achoccha Silvestre, Achocha China, Balsamina, Balsamito,
Bálsamo, Calabaza Africana, Cunde Amor, Melo De Ratón, Momordica Amarga,
Papayiyo, Pepinillo, Pepino Amargo, Pepino Cimarrón; Sri Lanka : Karawila (
Sinhalese ); Swedish : Bittergurka; Taiwan : Kǔguā Thai : Maha, Mara, Marajin,
Phakha; Tobago : Caraili; Tonga : Meleni ‘Ae Kuma, Vaine ‘Initia; Trinidad
& Tobago : Karailī ( Hindu ), Caraili, Caraille, Carilley; Turkish : Kudret
Narı; Vietnamese : Khổ Qua ( Southern ), Mướp Ðắng ( Northern ), La Khoqua
(Leaves); West Indies : Balsam Pear, Carilla, Kuguazi, Mexicaine, Pomme
Z’indiens.
Ayurvedic uses: Antidiabetic, Svasa, Jvara, Kamala, Kasa, Krimiroga, Kushta, Pandu, Prameha, Raktavikara, Aruchi, Seed/fruit—improves diabetic condition. Fruit—stomachic, laxative, antibilious, emetic, anthelmintic. Used in cough, respiratory diseases, intestinal worms, skin diseases, also for gout and rheumatism. Powdered fruit—applied to wounds and ulcers. Leaf— emetic, antibilious, purgative. Fruit, leaf and root—abortifacient. Leaf and seed—anthelmintic. Root— astringent; applied to haemorrhoids.
In Guyana, often boiled with Unxia camphorata, Momordica charantia and Irlbachia alata, or mixed with various barks, to yield a tea for remedying male impotence. Stem and Leaf: The French Guiana Wayapi make a febrifuge decoction of this plant mixed with Hyptis lanceolata and Lantana camara.[Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana)]
Unani uses: Waja-ul-Mafasil, Niqras, Istisqa, Deedan-e-Shikam, Sual, Dama
595 Published article list of Momordica charantia
