Local Name: Kakrol
English: Teasle gourd/Kantola/spiny gourd
Scientific name: Momordica dioica
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Availability: April – October
Description: Momordica charantia is a botanical name of Kantola. It belongs to “Cucurbitaceous” family and has “Momordica” as a genus. Look wise Kantola is similar to bitter gourd and has a shape like water droplet of 2-3 cm diameter. Vine of spiny gourd grows slowly. Spiny gourd pods are dark green in color and they change color as they get ripe from light green to yellow, by indicating that they are overripen and bitterer in taste.
Only spiny gourds with the dark green color are edible and it is advised to prepare a dish after peeling the outer surface of it. It is mild and easy to digest. It is also used as medicine to cure different health problem in different form such as powdered or dried from. Check out spiny gourd’s health benefits.
Health Benefits:
– Source of phytonutrients
– Useful for pregnant women
– Reduce blood sugar level in diabetic patients
– Reduce the chances of cancer:
– Work as anti-aging
– Improve eyesight
– Treat fever and wasting away problem
– Home remedy to cure piles
– Reduce excess sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
– Treat Coughing
– Give relief in breathing problem
– Remove kidney stones
– Improve digestion etc.