A new study has shown that bitter melon helps to prevent breast cancer in women.

Commonly known as "karela", has long been popular for its blood-sugar and anti-diabetes lowering property, and the fruit is rich in flavoinoids and vitamin C.

"Extracts of bitter melon appear to have breast cancer blocking powers", say researchers.

Study co-author Dr. Rajesh Agarwal from the University of Colorado, US, said, "Breast cancer is a major killer among women around the world, and in that perspective, results from this study are quite significant".

"This study may provide us with one more agent as an extract that could be used against breast cancer if additional studies hold true", he said.

Key ingredients were found in the green and bumpy fruit, which interfered with chemical pathways involved in cancer growth.

However, Dr. Agarwal, though optimistic about the find, threw in a cautious word, saying, "Although promising as an anti-cancer agent, trials in animals and then humans are still needed".

"And there is no proof that eating lots of bitter melon would offer any cancer protection", he added.

But the reason this find cannot be written off is due to the fact that many cancer treatments have themselves been developed from plant chemicals only.

Bitter melon, sometimes called bitter gourd or wild cucumber, is grown in parts of Asia, Africa and South America.