NUTRITIVE AND ANTIDIABETIC BENEFITS OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L. (BITTER GOURD)

M. charantia L. (Bitter gourd) is a delicate flowering vine in the family of Cucurbitaceae. The plant has climbing nature with elongated fruit. The unripe fruit is white or green in color and has a bitter taste that becomes more pronounced as the fruit ripens. It is used in cooking for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries, soups, for tea, culinary purposes and that can purify our blood. The leaf and fruit contain considerable amount of carbohydrate, significantly (P<0.05) higher than the amount present in the seed. Percent of moisture, total ash, crude fat and crude fibre are low in the seed. The most abundant mineral present in the leaf of M. charantia is calcium significantly greater than the amount of sodium, potassium, manganese, zinc, magnesium, iron and copper present and vitamins A, E, C, B-12 and folic acid. While trace amount of vitamins B-3, B-6, A, D and K were also found present. The review records nutritive value, antidiabetic potential work done in present scenario as it is said to regulate blood sugar.