The secret to beating breast cancer could be growing on vines in the tropics right now.

Researchers have found that the extract of the bitter melon fruit, which grows in Asia, Africa and South America, kills breast cancer cells, according to a study published in Cancer Research. And it didn’t appear to do any damage at all to healthy cells, according to the study.

The scientists say the bitter melon appeared to block chemical pathways used by cancer cells to help themselves divide, essentially turning them off… and killing the cells.

These tests were done in a Petri dish, so it remains to be seen if bitter melon will have the same power inside of a living body.

But hopefully, we’ll find out. Next up will be tests on animals, followed eventually by humans. If it’s successful, it would come as bad news to the makers of tamoxifen–the main drug currently given to women to help fight recurrent breast cancer. Tamoxifen has been linked to everything from discomforting side effects like nausea and vomiting to potential deadly conditions such as pulmonary embolism.

It’s also been linked to mental problems, including mood swings and depression.

Bitter melon, on the other hand, is… well, for one thing it’s bitter. And ugly. In addition to a name that basically says “don’t eat me,” these long green fruits are studded with spiky, wart-like knobs.

They look kind of like mutant cucumbers.

And unlike most fruits, which grow sweeter over time, bitter melon grows into its name. The longer you wait, the more bitter it will be.

But don’t be fooled by appearances, taste or even the name, because in addition to the potential power to block breast cancer, bitter melon is packed with vitamin C, flavonoids… and some pretty powerful natural healing properties.

As always, talk to your doctor before taking bitter melon… but it’s widely used by diabetics in other nations–and may be especially helpful in controlling blood sugar levels.

It’s also commonly used to help aid digestion, cure constipation and control gas. Some research has found antiviral properties in bitter melon, and there’s been some preliminary research that shows it could fight HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

It can be eaten–the Chinese cook it in stir-fry dishes– but it might take an acquired taste for most. A better choice may be bitter melon capsules, which give you all those benefits… and none of the bitterness.