Diabetes mellitus is among the most common disorder in developed and developing countries, and the disease is increasing rapidly in most parts of the world. It has been estimated that up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. One plant that has received the most attention for its anti-diabetic properties is bitter melon, Momordica charantia (M. charantia), commonly referred to as bitter gourd, karela and balsam pear. Its fruit is also used for the treatment of diabetes and related conditions amongst the indigenous populations of Asia, South America, India and East Africa.
Image by Shutterstock. Image of slices of bitter gourd arranged on a white background sourced from Shutterstock. Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/slices-bitter-gourd-arranged-on-white-286289255