Bittergourd

whats this autumn? fruit or a veg,,not seen one before

Nor me, it's an interesting looking thing !

These are also known as bitter melon, bitter cucumber, balsam pear

Bittergourds are good for health. Bitter gourd plant ROOTS are used in folk medicine for respiratory disorders. Juice from the leaves are also useful in liver damage due to alcoholism .....

according to 1 website:

The bitter gourd has excellent medicinal virtues. It is antidotal, antipyretic tonic, appetizing, stomachic, antibilious and laxative. The bitter gourd is also used in native medicines of Asia and Africa

The bitter gourd is specifically used as a folk medicine for diabetes. Recent researches have established that it contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin-like principle, designated as 'plant-insulin', which has been found highly beneficial in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, be included liberally in the diet of the diabetic. For better results, the diabetic should take the juice of about four or five fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can be added to food in the powdered form. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder

San, its a vegetable, bitter in taste. Not my favourite vegetable ....

very interesting autumn, a good all round plant