作者: H. Zell 成熟的苦瓜
苦瓜為葫蘆科植物，生長在熱帶地區，遍佈亞洲、加樂比海及非洲。此物青綠時食，帶苦味，但是成熟轉紅時，帶甜味。
苦瓜含豐富的黃酮類物質、皂苷（Saponin）、維他命C、三萜（Triterpenes），三萜物質靈芝裡也有。這些物質能夠協助肝臟痊癒，協助膽汁的運作，改善血脂的代謝。
苦瓜主要功效為：
- 支援肝、膽
任何支援肝-膽-腎運作的草藥，都能協助排毒，因為肝-膽-腎是體內最重要的排毒管道。 - 支援膽固醇排出
1) Jia, S., Shen, M., Zhang, F., & Xie, J. (2017). Recent Advances in Momordica charantia: Functional Components and Biological Activities. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(12), 2555.
2) Saad, D. Y., Soliman, M. M., Baiomy, A. A., Yassin, M. H., & El-Sawy, H. B. (2017). Effects of Karela (Bitter Melon; Momordica charantia) on genes of lipids and carbohydrates metabolism in experimental hypercholesterolemia: biochemical, molecular and histopathological study. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 17(1), 319.
3) Matsui, S., Yamane, T., Takita, T., Oishi, Y., Kobayashi-Hattori, K.(2013, Jul). The hypocholesterolemic activity of Momordica charantia fruit is mediated by the altered cholesterol-and bile acid-regulating gene expression in rat liver.
4) Deng, Y., Tang, Q., Zhang, Y., Zhang, R., Wei, Z., Tang, X., & Zhang, M. (2017). Protective effect of Momordica charantia water extract against liver injury in restraint-stressed mice and the underlying mechanism. Food & nutrition research, 61(1), 1348864.
5) Mada, Sanusi. (2014). Hepatoprotective Effect of Momordica charantia Extract against CCl4 Induced Liver Damage in Rats. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 4. 10.9734/BJPR/2014/4885.
