2 ms·

What about bitter melon, which is a popular vegetable consumed throughout Asia?

• ta988 4y ago
  Not the same molecules. In bitter melon it is mainly momordicine (an alkaloid) that seem to cause the bitterness.
  • 01100011 4y ago
    Interesting! It looks like bitter melon also has cucurbitacins though. I wonder how you'd determine a bitter melon is producing toxic cucurbitacins before eating it, since it's already bitter from the momordicine?
    • ta988 4y ago
      Yes it could be tricky, and they really tend to cross-pollinate. The best way is to not grow it close to non-edible Curcubitaceae, which can be tricky in an environment with neighbors around. Also you don't tend to eat a lot of bitter melon at once maybe that could reduce the risk.