The vine resembles that of the tomato. Instead of round red fruit, however, the bitter melon has green cucumber shaped fruit. Bitter melon isn't its only name. There are many nick-names, including bitter gourd, carilla plant, wild cucumber, African cucumber, karela, and its medicinal herb name in china, Kuguazi. Bitter melon is science-friendly.
Bitter melon is native to almost all tropical climates .
It is common in Africa, China, the Far East, India, Brazil, the Caribbean, etc. Some research scientists are concerned with leukemia or lymphoma. Others with the immune system. Some research AIDS and HIV-1. Others seek proteins that have immunosuppressive effect.