Ethnobotany and Nutritive Value

Abstract

Momordica species have been used as both food and medicine in the regions in which it grows, for centuries in ancient traditional Indian, Chinese, and African pharmacopoeia as anthelmintic, laxative, digestive stimulant, and to enhance appetite. Usefulness of various Momordica species as anthelmintic, vermifuge, cathartic, hypoglycemic, aphrodisiac, antipyretic and in the treatment of burns, bilious disorders, diabetes, cataract, hypertension, leprosy, jaundice, snake bite, hemorrhoids, and piles has been mentioned. However, traditional knowledge related to the use of these species by indigenous tribes is not yet fully documented in the published literature. The leaves and young fruits are cooked and eaten as vegetable in India, Cameroon, Sudan, and Southern Africa. Leaf and fruit extracts of bitter gourd are used in the preparation of tea and is a popular health drink in Japan. Tender clippings of bitter gourd and teasel gourd are used extensively as leafy vegetable in parts of India and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The fruits of the sweet gourd are esteemed as the fruit from Heaven for its ability to promote longevity, vitality, and health. Fruits of spine gourd contain aliphatic compounds which act as appetizer and astringent. Use of M. sahyadrica tuber paste as detergent and toilet soap holds promise in the cosmetic and health care industry. Bitter gourd has a relatively high nutritional value compared to other Cucurbits, due mainly to the iron and ascorbic acid content. Momordica is noted for acids with conjugated double bonds and high levels of antioxidant activity were noticed in balsam apple. M. dioica have medium protein value, fat, and phenolic compounds, and have maximum calorie value when compared to eight traditional wild vegetables of Indo-Persian region and could be a good supplement for nutrients such as fiber, potassium, zinc, lipid, protein, and carbohydrates. Sweet gourd contains β-carotene and lycopene at very high levels, with those of lycopene being up to 308 μg/g in the seed membrane, about 10-fold higher than in other lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables. Nutritional supplementation trials in Vietnam have shown that children fed with ‘xoi gac’ (rice cooked with fruit pulp of M. cochinchinensis, popularly called gac) have significantly higher plasma β-carotene, compared to those who received synthetic β-carotene powder or none. This chapter focuses on the nutritional composition as well as medicinal and therapeutic properties of Asiatic Momordica species.