Momordica balsamina

Momordica balsamina

Momordica balsamina is a tendril-bearing annual vine native to the tropical regions of Africa, introduced and invasive in Asia, Australia, and Central America. It has pale yellow, deeply veined flowers and round, somewhat warty, bright orange fruits, or "apples". When ripe, the fruits burst apart, revealing numerous seeds covered with a brilliant scarlet, extremely sticky coating. The balsam apple was introduced into Europe by 1568 and was used medicinally to treat wounds.[citation needed] In 1810, Thomas Jefferson planted this vine in his flower borders at Monticello along with larkspur, poppies, and nutmeg.

Uses

anthelminthic , fever, uterine bleeding, syphilis, rheumatism, hepatitis, skin disorders.

Parts Used

Fruits, Leaves, Seeds

Chemical Composition

The essential oil obtained from the seeds of Momordica charantia was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty-five components, representing 90.9% of the oil, were identified. The main constituents were trans-nerolidol, apiole, cis-dihydrocarveol and germacrene D.

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Huchhu thonde balli, Kaarchi balli
Hindi	बाड़ करेलिया Bad kareliya, बड़ा करेला Bara-karela, जंगली करेला Jangli-karela, Kankero, मोखा Mokha
Malayalam	Undapaval, Kaippanpaval
Tamil	Parpakal
Telugu
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit
English	Balsam Pear, Balsam Apple, african cucumber, southern balsam pear

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Habit

Herbs

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	round in outline	1.5-5.0 cm long and as broad, heart-shaped at base, hairless or sparsely hairy, 3-5-lobed, middle lobes broadly ovate or rhombic-ovate

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Bisexual	broadly ovate-heart-shaped	yellow		2.5-3.0 cm across, stalked. Male flowers are solitary, on 1.5 cm long flower-cluster-stalk, bearing near the tip a stalkless

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
Simple Fruit	broadly ovoid, narrowed at ends	2-7 cm long, 1-2.5 cm broad	orange-red, warty		{{{6}}}

Mode of Propagation

Seeds.

How to plant/cultivate

A plant of the tropics that can be grown in subtropical and warm temperate areas. It is found at elevations from sea level to 1,465 metres, in dry to wet areas with a rainfall of 200 - 1,200 mm annually. The plant seems to be at least somewhat frost hardy

Commonly seen growing in areas

Lowland forest.

Photo Gallery

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External Links

• flowers of india

• Momordica balsamina