Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) Reduces Serum Sialic Acid in Type2 Diabetics: Evidence to Delay the Process of Atherosclerosis

Abstract

More than 1000 herbal products have been used by diverse cultures of the world to treat hyperglycemia and among them bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is one of the most popular herbal resource. The beneficial effects of bitter melon is not limited to hypoglycaemia only, but it also ameliorates diet induced obesity, insulin resistance and exhibit cardioprotective effects. The present study attempts to investigate the effect of bitter melon fruit juice on a newly investigated risk factor, sialic acid in type2 diabetics. A total of 40 type2 diabetic patients, divided into group A (n = 20) and group B (n = 20) were investigated during the present study. The patients of group A were following bitter melon fruit juice treatment along with diet control, whereas the patients of group B were on diet control only. Serum sialic acid (SSA) decreased in group A from 66.20 ± 2.30 mg/dl to 63.50 ± 2.10 mg/dl (<0.11) but, increased in group B from 66.50 ± 1.70 mg/dl to 68.20 ± 2.50 mg/dl (<0.12), compared to baseline. Post-treatment between group comparison revealed a significant difference (<0.05). The beneficial effects on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycohemoglobin (HbA1-c) were also greater in group A compared to group B as was the case with blood lipids, weight and blood pressure. The study provides another mechanism for the cardioprotective effect of bitter melon and further strengthens its value in the management of type2 diabetes

Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) and its medicinal potency

“…More than 1 000 herbal products have been used by diverse cultures of the world to treat hyperglycemia and among them bitter melon (M. charantia) is one of the most popular herbal resource [101] . An earlier study on the development of diabetic cataracts demonstrated that blood sugar level-dependent cataract formation w a s s l o w e d d o w n b y t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f b i t t e r gourd fruit extract in association with better glucose homeostasis [102] .…”

A Doubled-Blind, Crossover-RCT in T2DM for Evaluating Hypoglycemic Effect of <I>P. indicus</I>, <I>M. charantia</I>, <I>P. vulgaris</I> and <I>A. paniculata</I> in Central Java

“…This previous study found that administration of extract was effective to lowering FPG, HbA1C and serum Sialic Acid (SSA) as well. This study did not find the effectiveness of lowering total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol [13][14][15] . Our recent study did not perform the effect of extract to HbA1C level and SSA because the study was only conducted in a month, that would effect no differences on such parameters.…”

Pre-Treatment With Cucurbitacin Triterpenoids Rich Biofraction of Momordi Cadioica Roxb. Fruit Protected the Cardiotoxicity Induced by Isoproterenol and Stress in Rats

“…This supports the findings of Tannin-spitzet al, Bernard et al report that cucurbitacin glycosides are having good antioxidant activity. 26,27 Catecholamines are important regulators of myocardial contractility and metabolism. However, it has been known for a long time that excess catecholamines are responsible for cellular damage, observed in clinical conditions like angina, transient myocardial hypoxia, acute coronary insufficiency and subendocardial infarct.…”