The uniquely flavored fruit lives up to its name-it tastes bitter. Inside this bitterness, however, is a plant that gives food and wide array of medicinal preparations. This makes it a favorite and popular fruit vegetable in Asia and elsewhere. The therapeutic value of the plant in treating various infectious diseases, especially diabetes, has recently attracted the attention of health scientists worldwide. The gourd is botanically known as Mamordica charantia. It belongs to the cucurbit family, which includes watermelon, muskmelon, squash, and cucumber. In different places or countries, bitter gourd is known as ampalaya, bitter melon, karela, balsam pear, bitter weed, k'u kua, Boston pear, Boston apple, bitter cucumber, bitter leaf, carillon, kho'qua, and serasee. Likely, the plant originated from Asia. Some believe that it is a native of China or India. Although bitter gourd is well-known and common in non-western areas, the same plant is poorly known in the USA and Europe where it is cultivated as ornamental and as curiosity plant.
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