Medicinal plant: Ampalaya

Ampalaya has an english name of African cucumber, Tuberculaated momordica, balsam apple or bitter gourd. But in the Philippines it is called ampalaya.

This is a climbing vine, nearly or quite smooth, annual vine. Fruit is green, fleshly, oblong, cylindrical, 15-16cm long, pointed at both ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when mature to release seeds.

Medicinal Plant: Ampalaya

This is a very common vegetable in the Philippines.It is considered as astringent, antidiabetic, abortifacient, antirheumatic, contraceptive, galactagogue, parasiticide, anthelmintic, etc.This medicinal plant plant is a good source of Vitamin B, Iron, calcium and Phosporus. It has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli and twice the calcium content in spinach.

This medicinal plant is usually used as antidiabetic, chronic stomach ulcers. Infusion of flowers used for asthma.

The Ampalaya contains a hypoglycemic polypeptide, a plant insulin responsible for its blood sugar lowering effect. It is increasingly recommended as an adjunct or supplement to traditional therapeutic regimens for diabetes mellitus.