Indications

Endocrine
• non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)

Gastrointestinal
• stomach ulcers
• colitis
• diarrhea
• peptic ulcer

Gynecological
• dysmenorrhea

Infections
• HIV (in vitro)
• herpes simplex virus (in vitro)
• Helicobacter pylori (in vitro)
• dengue fever

Dermatologic
• wound healing (topically)

Cancer
• prostate cancer (in vivo & in vitro)
• leukemia

Actions

• hypoglycemic
• anticancer
• bitter
• antihelmintic
• antimalarial
• antiviral
• cardioprotective
• abortifacient
• emmenagogue

Constituents

• steroidal saponins (momordicoside)
• triterpenoids
• fatty acids (eleostearic acid)
• polypeptides

Posology

• Freshly juiced 1-4 tbsp/day

Safety

Pregnancy - should be avoided because high doses have been used as an abortifacient

Oral hypoglycemics - can potentiate insulin and other oral hypoglycemic agents. Monitor patients approrpriately.

References

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Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines, 3rd ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 2007.

Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

Bone K. A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient. St Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone, 2003.

Brinker F. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, 3rd ed. Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications, 2000.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory. 1898. http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/kings/main.html. Accessed: August 19, 2006.

Hoffman D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 2003.

Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd, 1988.

Williamson EM, ed. Major Herbs of Ayurveda. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2002