Bitter melon

Synonym(s): balsam bulb, Momordica charantia

Nutrient group: plant extracts & active ingredients

Sources and physiological effects

Dietary sources
The bitter melon is a plant of the pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae) and grows worldwide in tropical areas. Asian cuisine in particular uses unripe fruits in dishes. Leaves, fruits and seeds have been used for centuries as a remedy in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Physiological effects
Glucose metabolism	The phytosterol charantin, regulates blood sugar levels.
Fat metabolism	Saponins inhibit pancreatic lipase.

Detailed information

Bitter melon for regulation of blood sugar

Bitter melon is used as a phytotherapeutic agent in the treatment of diabetes. The blood sugar lowering properties of bitter melon extract have been demonstrated in in vitro experiments, animal experiments and clinical studies (1). Saponins are suspected as the active components that inhibit the activity of disaccharidase and thus control blood glucose levels. Simultaneously, the efficiency of lipase from the pancreas is influenced, which stabilizes the blood fat levels (2). It has also been shown that water-soluble components of bitter melon extract can increase the uptake of glucose in fat cells at suboptimal insulin concentrations (3), which could be a further explanatory mechanism.

Indications

Effect	Indication	Dosage
Physiological effects at a low intake	For lowering and regulating elevated blood sugar levels in Diabetes-mellitus	100 mg /d
	To prevent glycosylation in catabolic metabolism	100 mg /d

Administration

General mode of administration
When	Bitter melon extract should be taken between meals.
Side effects
No side effects are known to date.
Contraindications
No contraindications are known to date.

Interactions

Drug or nutrient interactions
None	No interactions are known to date.

References

1) Martínez-Abundis, E. et al. 2016. Novel nutraceutic therapies for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. World Journal of Diabetes 7, Nr. 7: 142. doi:10.4239/wjd.v7.i7.142.

2) Oishi, Y. et al. 2007. Inhibition of Increases in Blood Glucose and Serum Neutral Fat byMomordica charantiaSaponin Fraction. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 71, Nr. 3: 735–740. doi:10.1271/bbb.60570.

3) Roffey, B. et al. 2007. Water extracts from Momordica charantia increase glucose uptake and adiponectin secretion in 3T3-L1 adipose cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 112, Nr. 1: 77–84. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.02.003.

References Interactions:

Stargrove, M. B. et al. Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies, 1. Auflage. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2008.

Gröber, U. Mikronährstoffe: Metabolic Tuning –Prävention –Therapie, 3. Auflage. Stuttgart: WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2011.

Gröber, U. Arzneimittel und Mikronährstoffe: Medikationsorientierte Supplementierung, 3. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Stuttgart: WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2014.