Momordica balsamina belongs to family Cucurbitaceae and also commonly called as balsam apple or African pumpkin. This genus consists of approximately 60 species that are widely spread across the tropical regions of South Africa and Southeast Asia. This specie is famous due to its vast therapeutic applications including its leaves, stems and its fruit pulp. Momordica balsamina  have a large number of bioactive compounds which are further be used for medicinal purposes. These bioactive compounds includes; alkaloids, tannins, saponins, proteins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and Terpenoids. These phytochemicals that are naturally present in plants can be used for treatment of different ailments such as cancer, diabetes, malaria or bacterial infections. This review article highlights the different phytochemicals extracted and various therapeutic applications of Momordica balsamina. Momordica balsamina has a very promising potential as a medicinal resource but a clinical approach must be needed to fully harness its medicinal advantages.

Keywords

Momordica balsamina, therapeutic applications, phytochemicals, clinical approach.