What is bitter melon?

Bitter melon is a tall-growing annual plant found in Africa, Asia, India and South America. Bitter melon's fruit, leaves, seeds, seed oil and roots are used for a variety of different medicines, recipes and even treatments for wounds, according to Drugs.com.

Bitter melon contains a chemical that acts similar to insulin to assist in the reduction of blood sugar levels, according to WebMD. As of 2015, clinical studies have not proven bitter melon to be effective as a supplement for type 2 diabetes, but it is used by some alternative medicine practitioners.

Bitter melon is a popular food in Asia, according to About Health.