Bitter melon grows in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of East Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America, where it is both a food and medicine. Although the seeds, leaves, and vines of bitter gourd can be used, its fruit is the safest and most widely used medicinal part of the plant. The sap of its leaves and fruits or seeds are used as an insect repellent; in Brazil, its dose as an insect repellent is 2 to 3 seeds.

Momordica charantia extract is mainly composed of a variety of triterpenes, including momordica charantia glycosides A-E, K, L, and momardicius I, II and III, steroids, glycosides, peptides, and other active ingredients for lowering blood sugar. Mainly used in food and health products.

Momordica charantia extract has a good effect on lowering blood sugar and is known as plant insulin. The whole-component extract is used for type 2 diabetes, which can maintain the normal level of blood sugar. Because it is extracted from plants, it has no toxic side effects compared with western medicine hypoglycemic agents.