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Bitter melon explained: what it is and how it grows

Bitter melon, also called Momordica charantia, is a fruit that grows on a climbing vine in tropical and subtropical areas. You can eat the fruit raw, though it is more often cooked or used to make tea. Two products we reviewed list bitter melon, and neither label prints its amount.

By HowNook's Health desk · Updated

BmBitter melonBmBitter melon
What it is
Plant
Amounts the NIH names
The typical recommended amount is 500 to 1000 mg taken two to three times daily.
In the products we reviewed
2, none prints the amount

What bitter melon is

  • Bitter melon fruit grows on a climbing vine found in tropical and subtropical areas.1
  • Bitter melon is also called Momordica charantia.1
  • Other names include Goya, Bitter Apple, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Squash and Balsam Pear.1
  • Bitter melon extracts are available as over-the-counter dietary supplements in liquid, powder and tablet forms.1
  • Bitter melon fruit can be eaten raw, but it is more often cooked or used to prepare teas.1

Foods that have it1

  • Bitter melon fruit

How much bitter melon each product gives

Per serving, as each label prints it, against the amounts the NIH names

NIH: 500 mg to 1,000 mg per dose

Amount not printed: the dashed line shows the most it can be, the whole blend

CellucareNot printed · at most 528 mg
GlucoTrustNot printed · at most 208 mg

Before you take it

Ask a doctor first

  • Do not use bitter melon during pregnancy or if you could become pregnant and are not using effective contraception.1

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. A supplement is not a medicine.

The 2 products we reviewed that list bitter melon

ProductForm and servingBitter melon per servingOur scorePrice a bottleBuy
Cellucare#4 in blood sugar supportCapsules1 capsuleNot printedIn a 528 mg proprietary blend9.4$49Check price
GlucoTrust#6 in blood sugar supportCapsules1 capsuleNot printedIn a 207.7 mg proprietary blend8.9$49Check price
Prices checked Sep 30, 2026

Questions people ask

What is bitter melon?

Bitter melon is a fruit, also called Momordica charantia, that grows on a climbing vine in tropical and subtropical areas. Another name is Goya.

What forms do bitter melon extract supplements come in?

Bitter melon extracts are available as over-the-counter dietary supplements in liquid, powder and tablet forms. Both products we reviewed that list bitter melon come in capsules.

How much bitter melon extract should I take?

The NIH names a typical recommended amount of 500 to 1000 mg, taken two to three times daily. Ask a clinician before starting.

Can I take bitter melon during pregnancy?

No. Do not use bitter melon during pregnancy or if you could become pregnant and are not using effective contraception. Ask a clinician before starting.

Which products we reviewed contain bitter melon, and how much?

Cellucare and GlucoTrust list bitter melon, but neither prints its individual amount. Cellucare includes it in a 528 mg proprietary blend, while GlucoTrust includes it in a 207.7 mg proprietary blend. Each serving is 1 capsule, and those figures describe the whole blends, not bitter melon alone.

Also in these products

All ingredients

Sources

The products, amounts and prices come from each product's label and checkout, as its review shows them. AI drafts our pages from listed sources, figures are checked against them, and we have not tried the products.

  1. 1NIH LiverTox, Bitter Melonncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookschecked