African cucumber

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• balsam-apple
• African Cucumber
• Balsam Apple
• Balsam Peer
• Bursting Beauty

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Momordica schinzii
• Momordica huberi
• Momordica involucrata
• Momordica garriepensis
• Nevrosperma cuspidata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cucurbitaleales, it is classified under the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Momordica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Momordica balsamina, exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions in Africa. In Northern Africa, its presence has been documented specifically within Tunisia. Moving southward, the species is found throughout various parts of West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of Benin, Burkina, and Mali. Additionally, its range extends to the West Tropical African nation of Mauritania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Momordica balsamina is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, occurring across a diverse range of vertical gradients. It can be found at elevations as low as 5 m AMSL, extending up to a maximum elevation of 1465 m AMSL. In terms of its interaction with human environments, the species is noted for being rarely cultivated, suggesting that it primarily thrives in its natural, wild state rather than within managed agricultural landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1465 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

rarely cultivated

Life history

The life history of Momordica balsamina is characterized by its classification as an annual, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on the production of seeds that remain dormant during unfavorable periods, allowing the plant to bypass harsh conditions and emerge anew when environmental circumstances become favorable. This lifecycle enables the species to rapidly colonize available habitats, utilizing its transient growth phase to maximize reproductive output before the onset of senescence.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Momordica balsamina is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as an obligatory vine, utilizing a climbing habit to ascend toward light sources. The plant exhibits a terrestrial lifestyle, existing as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic dependencies. In terms of stature, its height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 5 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Momordica balsamina is characterized by specific vegetative growth patterns and nutritional metabolic processes. The leaf morphology exhibits a defined size range, with leaf lengths typically measuring between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 7 cm. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Momordica balsamina is centered around the production and dispersal of its seeds, which exhibit specific morphological characteristics essential for its life cycle. The seeds produced by this species demonstrate a measurable variation in weight, reflecting the biological diversity within its reproductive output. Quantitatively, the seed mass shows a mean value of 0.08655625 g. This measurement is bounded by a minimum seed mass of 0.0682 g and reaches a maximum seed mass of 0.1111 g. These specific weight parameters are critical indicators of the plant's reproductive investment and the potential vigor of the resulting progeny.

Seed mass max:

0.1111 g

Seed mass mean:

0.08655625 g

Seed mass min:

0.0682 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Momordica balsamina has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, seed.

Leaf

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
2. Virology journal
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Fruit

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Seed

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Chemicals

Momordica balsamina has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Balsamin, Balsaminol F, CALCIUM, Flavonoids, Karavilagenin C.

Balsamin

1. Virology journal
2. PloS one

Balsaminol F

1. Planta medica
2. In silico pharmacology

CALCIUM

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Flavonoids

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
2. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Karavilagenin C

1. Planta medica
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

MAGNESIUM

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Terpenes

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
2. Frontiers in plant science

Anthraquinones

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

BALSAMINOL A

1. In silico pharmacology

BALSAMINOL C

1. In silico pharmacology

Activities

Momordica balsamina has 8 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antimalarial, Antioxidant.

Abortifacient

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Analgesic

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Anthelmintic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimalarial

1. European journal of medicinal chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Antiviral

1. In silico pharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Hypoglycemic

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Conditions

Momordica balsamina has 19 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HIV, HIV-1, Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium falciparum, SARS-CoV-2.

Hiv

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Hiv-1

1. Virology journal

Plasmodium berghei

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Sars-cov-2

1. In silico pharmacology

Cardiovascular disease

1. Cardiovascular endocrinology & metabolism

Colon cancer

1. Planta medica

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Gastric cancer

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Momordica balsamina has 10 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Water-soluble extracts, a tea, aqueous extracts, crude methanol extract, ethanol extracts.

Water-soluble extracts

1. Virology journal

A tea

1. Virology journal

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Crude methanol extract

1. Planta medica

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the methanol extract of the aerial parts

1. Planta medica

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract of the aerial parts

1. Planta medica

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water extracts of the leaves

1. Virology journal