The contents of polyphenol and flavonoid from leaves and fruits of tree Momordica charantia are higher than other medicinal plants. These components are very soluble in low acid medium and ethanol. In growth processing of tree Monordica charantia, the content of polyphenol and flavonoid increase in fruits and leaves, and after then it decrease little
Flavonoids ; polyphenols ; Momordica charantia

Objectives: The increasing use of the Internet as a source of health information makes the accuracy of such information crucial. An example is the use of the widely advertised bitter melon (Momordica charantia) in treating diabetes despite its unproven efficacy. This study aims to assess the accuracy of websites containing information on bitter melon’s role in diabetes, to search for the presence of the proposed quality indicators, and to determine their correlation with accuracy. Methodology: An Internet search was used to generate a list of websites. The accuracy of each website was determined by comparing its content with that of a tool that was developed from authoritative sources. The presence of the proposed quality indicators, taken from published guidelines, was then correlated with accuracy. Results: Of the 158 websites identified, 10 (6.33%) were characterized as “most accurate” and 21 (13.3%) as “somewhat accurate.” The identified indicators of accuracy were the HONcode logo (OR 12.1, p=0.011); the author, identified as a healthcare professional (OR = 6.11, p = 0.008); and a citation from a peer-reviewed medical literature (OR 2.92, p = 0.029). Conclusion These findings suggest that most of the Internet-based information on bitter melon’s role in diabetes is inaccurate. The public can use several indicators of accurate information on the use of bitter melon in diabetes to improve health care.
Internet ; Momordica charantia

Background: Amoebiasis is a global health problem affecting poor regions in the world. Few drugs such as metronidazole are available to treat this disease; unfortunately, it is associated with several serious side effects. Tsaang gubat and ampalaya have been used by traditional healers from different cultures to treat dysentery. Objective: The aim of this research was to provide evidence to validate the use of tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaf extracts for dysentery by determining their anti-amoebic activity. Methods: The tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaves were sourced from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños and processed into a lyophilized aqueous extract. Anti-amoebic activity was determined in an in vitro assay using Entamoeba histolytica HK-9 strain against 10 dose levels (18-10,000 μg/mL). The amoeba and leaf extracts were incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The trophozoites were stained with Trypan blue and dispensed into chambers of a Neubauer hemocytometer. The live trophozoites (unstained) were counted under a binocular microscope. The MIC and IC50 were determined. Metronidazole and DMSO served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Results: Tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaves failed to show anti-amoebic activity and even had increased growth of amoeba at all dose levels. The IC50 of tsaang gubat and ampalaya leaf extracts were >500 μg/mL at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Metronidazole was able to eradicate the amoeba parasite at 24 and 72 hours, while exposure to DMSO did not result in inhibition nor death of the parasite. Conclusion Tsaang gubat and ampalaya aqueous leaf extracts did not exhibit any anti-amoeba activity.
Momordica charantia ; Antiparasitic Agents

Objectives: The increasing use of the Internet as a source of health information makes the accuracy of such information crucial. An example is the use of the widely advertised bitter melon (Momordica charantia) in treating diabetes despite its unproven efficacy. This study aims to assess the accuracy of websites containing information on bitter melon’s role in diabetes, to search for the presence of the proposed quality indicators, and to determine their correlation with accuracy. Methodology: An Internet search was used to generate a list of websites. The accuracy of each website was determined by comparing its content with that of a tool that was developed from authoritative sources. The presence of the proposed quality indicators, taken from published guidelines, was then correlated with accuracy. Results: Of the 158 websites identified, 10 (6.33%) were characterized as “most accurate” and 21 (13.3%) as “somewhat accurate.” The identified indicators of accuracy were the HONcode logo (OR 12.1, p=0.011); the author, identified as a healthcare professional (OR = 6.11, p = 0.008); and a citation from a peer-reviewed medical literature (OR 2.92, p = 0.029). Conclusion These findings suggest that most of the Internet-based information on bitter melon’s role in diabetes is inaccurate. The public can use several indicators of accurate information on the use of bitter melon in diabetes to improve health care.
Internet ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Momordica Charantia

Background and Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern affecting more than 400 million people worldwide. Diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular complications lead to debilitating effects to patients. To prevent these, the treatment goal is to lower the blood sugar levels and maintain at a normal range which is achieved through conventional treatments like insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents. However, the high cost of these medications implicates patient treatment outcomes. Hence, alternatives are sought for including the use of herbal medicines. Momordica charantia (MC) and Lagerstroemia speciosa (LS) are common herbal medicines used to manage T2DM. In the Philippines, these herbal preparations are validated for their glucose lowering effects and are commonly found in combination in food supplements. The study aims to screen the possible mechanisms of compounds present in these herbal medicines which can offer possible explanations for their synergistic effects and rationalization of their combination in preparations. Methods: Network pharmacology was employed to determine pivotal proteins that are targeted by MC and LS compounds. Molecular docking was then done to evaluate the favorability of the binding of these compounds toward their target proteins. Results: Our results showed that TNF, HSP90AA1, MAPK3, ALDH2, GCK, AKR1B1, TTR and RBP4 are the possible pivotal targets of MC and LS compounds in T2DM. Conclusion Terpenoids from MC and decanoic acid from LS are the compounds which showed favorable binding towards pivotal protein targets in T2DM. By binding towards the different key proteins in T2DM, they may exhibit their synergistic effects. However, the results of this study are bound to the limitations of computational methods and experimental validation are needed to verify our findings.
Molecular Docking Simulation ; Network Pharmacology ; Momordica charantia

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine methods of dental caries prevention by investigating the use of compounds of Diospyros kaki (D. kaki) peel, Momordica charantia (M. charantia), and Canavalia gladiata (C. gladiata) extracts to limit the cariogenic traits of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), such as their ability to proliferate and adhere to the tooth surface. METHODS: Broth microdilution and the agar spreading assay were used to determine the antimicrobial effect and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of S. mutans extracts. In order to identify the adhesive ability of S. mutans at varying concentrations, culture plates were first stained with 1 ml of 0.01% crystal violet for 15 minutes at room temperature, and then eluted with 1 ml of EtOH:Acetone (8:2) solution for 15 minutes in a 37℃ incubator. Eluted solutions were then evaluated by use of a spectrophotometer at 575 nm. RESULTS: Experiments were conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of D. kaki peel, M. charantia, and C. gladiata extracts on limiting the proliferation of S. mutans. The MIC was measured as an indication of whether the antibacterial activity of D. kaki peel, M. charantia, and C. gladiata extracts had a significant bacteriostatic effect on S. mutans. M. charantia extract was effective for growth inhibition on S. mutans at a minimum concentration of 0.25%. From the adhesion ability assay, M. charantia extract had an anti-adhesive effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that M. charantia extract demonstrates antibacterial activity and has an anti-adhesive effect on S. mutans. Due to these properties, M. charantia extract may be used to prevent dental caries.
Adhesives ; Agar ; Canavalia ; Dental Caries ; Diospyros ; Gentian Violet ; Incubators ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Momordica charantia ; Momordica ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus ; Thiram ; Tooth

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dried Momordica charantia aqueous extracts (MCA) and ethanol extracts (MCE) on obesity and lipid profiles in mice fed a high-fat diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty two ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups. The normal group was fed a basal diet, and other groups were fed a 45% high-fat diet (HFD) for 7 weeks. The normal and HFD groups were also orally administered distilled water each day for 7 weeks. The remaining groups received Momordica charantia extract (0.5 or 1.0 g/kg/day MCA, and 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg/day MCE). In order to measure the anti-obesity and lipid profile improvement effects, body and visceral tissue weight, lipid profiles, plasma insulin levels, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. RESULTS: Both MCA and MCE significantly decreased body and visceral tissue weight relative to those of the HFD group (P < 0.05). Additionally high doses of MCE and MCA significantly reduced the plasmatic insulin levels compared to the HFD groups (P < 0.05) to concentrations comparable to those found in the normal group. MCA and MCE supplementation also significantly modulated the lipid profiles in plasma, liver, and feces compared to mice fed the HFD (P < 0.05). Furthermore MCA and MCE significantly increased hepatic SOD activity, and reduced MDA generation in the liver of the HFD mice (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results from the present study suggest that Momordica charantia extracts have anti-obesity effects and the ability to modulate lipid prolife of mice fed a HFD by suppressing body weight gain, visceral tissue weight, plasma and hepatic lipid concentrations, and lipid peroxidation along with increasing lipid metabolism.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat* ; Ethanol ; Feces ; Insulin ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Malondialdehyde ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Momordica charantia* ; Momordica* ; Obesity* ; Plasma ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Water

Momordica charantia L. is a vegetable widely cultivated around the world. Its fruits have been used in Asian countries as a folk medicine for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Here we report eight compounds isolated from the fruits of M. charantia. On the basis of NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses, these compounds were identified as momordicolide ((10E)-3-hydroxyl-dodeca-10-en-9-olide, 1), monordicophenoide A (4-hydroxyl-benzoic acid 4-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl (1 --> 2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2), dihydrophaseic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 6,9-dihydroxy-megastigman-4,7-dien-3-one (blumenol, 4), guanosine (5), adenosine (6), uracil (7) and cytosine (8). Among them, 1 and 2 are new compounds. Compounds 3-5 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Fruit ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Momordica charantia ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC for determination of aglycone of momordicoside L in Momordica charantia.

METHODA Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) column was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-H2O (64:36), the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the UV detection wavelength was set 203 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curves were linear from of 0.025 microg to 1 microg (r =0.9911), the contents of aglycone of momordicoside L in Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Jiangxi are 0.211, 0.033, 0.013, 0.007 mg x g(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and reliable for determination of aglycone of momordicoside L in M. charantia.

Two triterpen glycoside belong to cucurbitacin group, momordicosid A (3-O-β- gentiobiosyl cucurbit-5-en- 3β, 22 (S), 23 (R), 24 (R), 25-pentaol) and momordicosid B (3-O- β- D- xylopyranosyl (1-4)- [β-D- glucopyranosyl (1-6)]- β- D- glucopyranosyl cucurbit-5-en-3 β, 22 (S), 23 (R), 24 (R), 25-pentaol) were isolated and identified from the defatted seeds of Momordica charantia L. attained at Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectra including IR, FAB-LR-MS, 1H-NMR, HMBC and 1H-NMR
Glycosides ; Seeds ; Momordica