Herb in Thai notifiable formulas
Thai Bitter Cucumber
มะระขี้นก · Mara Khi Nok
Momordica charantia L.
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Part used
- fruit
- Crude drug
- Momordicae Charantiae Fructus
- Other names
- Thai Bitter Gourd, Thai Bitter Melon, Thai Bitter Squash
- In the announcement
- Used in 2 notifiable formulas (2 as capsules)
Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia (THP)
Constituents and quality criteria of Thai Bitter Cucumber
Summarised from the Thai Bitter Cucumber monograph of the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Department of Medical Sciences, the standard used to test the dried green mature fruit.
The pharmacopoeia sets no minimum marker content for this herb. Use the raw material quality criteria below for acceptance testing.
Constituents
Thai Bitter Cucumber contains charantin, a mixture of sitosteryl and stigmasteryl glucosides, and bitter triterpenoids (e.g., momordicins). It also contains polypeptides (e.g., p-insulin), phenolic compounds, etc.
Raw material quality criteria
| Foreign matter | Not more than 2.0% w/w |
| Loss on drying | Not more than 16.0% w/w |
| Total ash | Not more than 13.0% w/w |
| Acid-insoluble ash | Not more than 0.1% w/w |
| Water-soluble extractive | Not less than 4.5% w/w |
| Ethanol-soluble extractive | Not less than 1.0% w/w |
Storage: Thai Bitter Cucumber shall be kept in well-closed containers, protected from light, and stored in a dry place.
Source: Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Department of Medical Sciences (online edition, accessed 21 October 2026)Read the full THP monograph
Formulas using Thai Bitter Cucumber
2 formulas containing Thai Bitter Cucumber
Select a formula to see its ingredients and indications. Formula names and indications are a reference translation; the Thai announcement is the legal text.
Development potential
Develop Thai Bitter Cucumber into a product with the TIBD group
In notifiable formulas2 formulas2 as a single-herb formula
THP raw-material criteria6 testsfor acceptance testing before production
Marker with a minimum contentNot setquality is checked with the raw-material criteria
Three ways forward 1Notify a listed formula2Adapt it through detailed notification3Develop a Category B herbal medicine or Category C health productSee the development pathway
K-API · manufacturing in the group
Extract and manufacture at K-API
The TIBD group plant licensed by the Thai FDA to manufacture herbal products, so extraction and production stay within the group.
See the K-API plantTIBD · consultationPlan a product with Thai Bitter Cucumber
We check whether your formula qualifies for notification, detailed notification or registration with the Thai FDA, then prepare the filing documents.
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