Botany
A climbing vine with tendrils up to 20
centimeters long. Leaves heart-shaped, 5-10 cm in diameter, cut into 5-7 lobes. Male and female yellow flowers, about 15 mm long, long-stalked with pair of small leaflike bracts at middle or toward base of stalk. Fleshy green fruit, oblong with pointed ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when mature to release seeds. Seeds flat with ruminated margins.
     Probably of Asiatic origin. Year-round vegetable growing in various places from sea level to higher altitudes. Wild forms found in wastelands at low and medium altitudes. Propagation by seeds.

Distribution
Year-round vegetable, extensively cultivated in the Philippines for its bitter edible fruit.
Also found in open fields, thickets, and waste places. (See: Ampalayang ligaw)

Properties
Astringent, vulnerary, parasiticide, anthelmintic, purgative, emetic, antipyretic, febrifuge, emmenagogue, cooling and tonic.

Parts utilized
Leaves, roots and fruits.

Uses
Folkloric
Astringent powdered leaves or root decoction can be applied to hemorrhoids.
Leaf juice for cough and as a purgative and anthelminthic to expel intestinal parasites, and for healing wounds.
Seeds also used to expel worms.
Juice from fruit used for dysentery and chronic colitis.
The vine or the juice of leaves used as mild purgative for children.
In large doses, the fresh juice is a drastic purgative.
Decoction of roots and seeds used for urethral discharges.
Pounded leaves used for scalds.
Infusion of leaves or leaf juice used for fevers.
Nutritional
The leaves and fruit - used as vegetables - are excellents sources of Vit B, iron, calcium, and phosphorus. It has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli and twice the calcium content of spinach. Characteristically bitter-tasting, slight soaking in salty water before cooking removes some of the bitter taste of the fruit.
Recent use
Diabetes Mellitus
A Philippine herb that has recently gained international recognition for its possible benefits in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Despite its bitter taste, it has also become a popular nutritional drink for a boost of vim and vigor. In fact, the more bitter, the better, as it is believed that the bitterness is proportionate to its potency.
      Studies have suggested that ampalaya contains a hypoglycemic polypeptide, a plant insulin responsible for its blood sugar lowering effect. Other benefits suggested were body detoxification (including removal of nicotine), strengthening of the immune system and fertility regulation.
     It is increasingly recommended as an adjunct or supplement to traditional therapeutic regimens for diabetes mellitus.

Other (Kitchen) Preparations
Steam ampalaya tops (upper four leaves) and eat half a cup twice daily. As a decoction, boil six tablespoons of finely chopped leaves in two glasses of water over low fire (for 15 minutes). Drink 1/3 cup, three times a day, 30 minutes before meals. Don't use aluminum pots (clay or enamel only).

Toxicity
None known.

Availability
Wild-crafted.
Perennial vegetable market produce.
Tablets (Amargozin by Altermed / Pascual Laboratories) for diabetes. Recently, available in capsule formulation, Charagen Ampalaya.