Momordicae charantiae fructus

Momordicae charantiae fructus is a drug made from the cucumber-like fruits of the bitter melon, the ingredients of which are used in herbal medicinal products as an antidiabetic, among other things.

Momordicae charantiae fructus contains the phytosterol mixture Charantin, the oleanolic acid derivative Momordin.

The ingredients of bitter melon provide a reduction in blood glucose levels in non-insulin-dependent patients and lower the HbA1c value. In the process, the glucose transfer is also influenced. Intestinal incretins stimulated, insulin resistancein the muscle is lowered and the enzymes involved in glucose metabolism should be regenerated faster.

Momordicae charantiae fructus is used as a dietary supplement in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also used as an emetic, laxative, tonic and antidiabetic.

To be taken in the morning and evening; take 1 capsule of a bitter melon concentrate before meals. The usual daily dose is 1,000 mg.

Controlled, systematic studies on long-term tolerance in humans are still pending. At present there are only reports on the use of bitter melon in Asia from the last centuries.

Bitter melon capsules should be taken under medical supervision as oral antidiabetics or insulin may need to be adjusted. The comparison with bitter melon pressed juice showed unsatisfactory results for the pressed juice.

Momordica charantia is propagated in the American area in the field of dietary supplements and supplements. In research, various active ingredients are being studied in more detail, for example in HIV treatment or because of their anticarcinogenic effect. The blood sugar-lowering effect of M. charantia in type II diabetics requires further investigation.

The following effects have been shown in smaller studies:

• Anthelmintic table
• Anti-herpetic
• Antimycotic
• Antiandrogen

1. Bai J et al (2016) Response of good microbiota and inflammatory status to bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) in high fat diet induced obese rats. J Ethnopharmacol. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.043.
2. Dandawate PR et al,(2016) Bitter melon: a panacea for inflammation and cancer. Chin J Nat Med 14:81-100.
3. Dia VP et al.(2016) BG-4, a novel anticancer peptide from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), promotes apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. Sci Rep 6:33532. doi: 10.1038/srep33532. PubMed PMID: 27628414
4. Jiang B et al(2016) Antidiabetic activities of a cucurbitane-type triterpenoid compound from Momordica charantia in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Mol Med Rep 14:4865-4872.
5. Pereira CA et al,(2016) Anti-helminthic activity of Momordica charantia L. against Fasciola hepatica eggs after twelve days of incubation in vitro. Vet parasitol 228:160-166.
6. Rashid MM et al(2016) Anthelmintic activity of silver-extract nanoparticles synthesized from the combination of silver nanoparticles and M. charantia fruit extract. BMC Complement Aging Med. 16:242.
7. Raina K et al,(2016) Promise of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) bioactives in cancer prevention and therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 40-41:116-129.
8. Sun Y et al,(2016) Mono-PEGylation of Alpha-MMC and MAP30 from Momordica charantia L.: Production, Identification and Anti-Tumor Activity. Molecules 21 PubMed PMID: 27809255.