A Bitter Crop with Sweet Potential for Producers and Human Health

Relatively little information is available with regard to the cultivation of bitter melon (Momordica charanita) in the United States.  Bitter melon has been reported to have various health benefits including anti-cancer and anti diabetic activities. Considering the conventional wisdom and recent scientific evidence, it is important to promote the use bitter melon in the United States and demonstrate to producers about its potential of growing as a  specialty crop. In this study, we present  a  yield comparison of five bitter melon varieties (Indian Green, Indian White, Hong Kong Green, Japanese Spindle, and Large Top) grown in College Station, TX. The total ascorbic acid content and total saponin content of these varieties were compared.  Bitter melon fruit yield cultivated in College Station in 2013 ranged from 1.04 kg/plant in 'Japanese Spindle' to 2.32 kg/plant for 'Hong Kong Green'.  For 2014, yields were drastically reduced due to several factors such as plant disease and climatic conditions. The levels of total ascorbic acid among five varieties were compared for the immature fruit, mature fruit and pulp material.  Levels of total ascorbic acid in immature fruit ranged from 42.69 mg/100g in 'Hong Kong Green'  to 162 mg/100g  in 'Japanese Spindle'.  Total ascorbic acid levels in mature fruit ranged from 19.10 mg/100mg in 'Large Top'  to 91.56 mg/100g for 'Indian Green'.  Furthermore, the levels of total ascorbic acid in bitter melon pulp material were at least two-fold higher than the level of total ascorbic acid of the respective immature fruits. The level of total ascorbic acid ranged from 279 mg/100g  in 'Large Top' to 409.02 mg/g  in 'Japanese Spindle'. Additionally the levels of total saponins were evaluated to estimate the levels of possible cucurbitane-type compound in various extracts of the five bitter melon varieties.  Data from this study illustrate the feasibility of growing bitter melon in Texas as a specialty crop that is rich in health promoting compounds.