Momordica charantia L. (Bitter gourd) is a flowering vine in the family of Cucurbitaceae. It contains an array of novel and biologically active phytochemicals including triterpenes, proteins and steroids. Medicinally, the plant has a long history of use by the indigenous people as a folk medicine. Bitter gourd is often used in Chinese cooking for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries, soups, and also as tea. Pakistan, Philippines, Panama and Nepal also use this bitter vegetable for culinary purposes in addition to India. Several medicinal properties of the bitter gourd have been studied by various researchers, such as anti-diabetic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, anti-tumour, anti-lipolytic, analgesic, abortifacient, anti-viral, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory. In vitro studies reveals that the bitter gourd proteins (α-and β-monorcharin) have inhibitory effect against HIV virus, and leaf extracts have broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity as well. Many in vivo studies have demonstrated the relatively low toxicity of all parts of the bitter gourd plant when ingested orally. This review also addresses taxonomy, phytochemical, culinary practices and pharmacological properties in detail. Over the years scientists have verified many of the traditional uses of this bitter plant that continues to be an important natural remedy in herbal medicine systems. Bitter gourd products such as concentrated fruit and seed extracts can be found in capsules and tablets, as well as in whole herb/vine powder forms and these supplements are becoming more widely available in many countries nowadays as prophylactic or therapeutic agents.
| Published in | International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21 |
| Page(s) | 75-83 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Momordica Charantia, Phytochemistry, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Medicinal Importance
| [1] | Batran, SAES, El-Gengaihi SE, & El-Shabrawya OA. Some toxicological studies of Momordica charantia L. on albino rats in normal and alloxan diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006; 108: 236-242. |
| [2] | Kirtikar KR, & Basu BD. In: E. Blatter, J. F. Caius, K. S. Mhaskar (2ndEds.), Indian medicinal plants (Vol. 2). Allahabad, India: Lalit Mohan Basu; 1993. p 1182 |
| [3] | Bown D. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. (1st ed.,) Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc, New Yark.1995; p:135. |
| [4] | Hooker JD. The Flora of British India. (Vol. 2). Reeve & Co Ltd. The Oast House, Brook, NR.Asford. Kent, England; 1961. |
| [5] | Alessandra B, Tiziana S, Manuela DA, & Maria PG. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Momordica charantia seed essential oil. Fitoterapia. 2008; 79: 123-125. |
| [6] | Budrat P, & Shotipruk A. Enhanced recovery of phenolic compounds from bitter melon (Momordica charantia) by subcritical water extraction. Sep Purific Technol. 2009; 66:125-129. |
| [7] | Yuwai KE, Rao KS, Kaluwin C, Jones GP & Rivett DE. Chemical composition of Momordica charantia L. fruits. J Agric Food Chem. 1991; 39: 1762-1763. |
| [8] | Li QY, Chen HB, Liu ZM & Wang B. Cucurbitane triterpenoids from Momordica charantia. Chinese Chemical Lett. 2007; 18: 843-845. |
| [9] | Chopra RN, Nayar SL, & Chopra IC. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. NISCAIR, (7th ed). CSIR, New Delhi; 2006.p. 151-152. |
| [10] | Baldwa VS, Bhandari CM, Pangaria A, Goyal RK.. Clinical trial in patients with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-like compound obtained from plant source. Upsala J Med Sci, 1977; 82: 39-41. |
| [11] | Nadkarni KM. In: Indian Materia Medica (2007) Vol. II. Popular Prakashan, Mumbai., 296. |
| [12] | Satyavati GV, Raina MK, Sharma M. Medicinal Plants of India. Vol I, ICMR, New Delhi, India; 1987. p. 317-320. |
| [13] | Kumar DS, Sharathnath KV, Yogeswaran P, Harani A, Sudhakar K, Sudha P & Banji D. A medicinal potency of Momordica charantia. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. 2010; 1(2): 95-100. |
| [14] | Leslie Taylor: In: Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest, 2nd edition, Sage Press, Inc., 2002 |
| [15] | Maiti R, Satya P, Rajkumar D& Ramasamy A. Crop plant anatomy.2012.CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon,CRO 4YY. |
| [16] | Abascal K & Yarnell E. Using bitter gourd to treat diabetes. Altern Complemen Ther. 2005; 11(4): 179-184. |
| [17] | Bhakru HK. Foods that heal (The natural way to good life). Orient paperback.New Delhi.1st Edition, 1990. |
| [18] | The wealth of India. Vol. 6. Publication and Information Directorate. CSIR, New Delhi; 1962. p. 411. |
| [19] | http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/ampalaya.htm |
| [20] | Lim TK. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits. Springer Science and Business Media BV.2012. |
| [21] | Rashmi T, Wadher KJ, Taksande JB, Umekar MJ. Bitter melon: A Bitter body with a sweet soul. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. 2011; 2(2): 443-447. |
| [22] | Ahmed I, Adeghate E, Sharma AK, Pallot, DJ, & Singh, J. Effects of Momordica charantia fruit juice on islet morphology in the pancreas of the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998; 40:145-151. |
| [23] | Matsuda H, Li Y, Yamahara J & Yoshikawa M. Inhibition of gastric emptying by triterpene saponin, momordin Ic, in mice: roles of blood glucose, capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, and central nervous system. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1999; 289:729- 34. |
| [24] | Raza H, Ahmed I, John A & Sharma AK. Modulation of xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed with Momordica charantia fruit extract. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2000;14:131- 139. |
| [25] | Gürbüz I, Akyüz C, Yesilada E, & Sener B.. Anti-ulcerogenic effect of Momordica charantia L. fruits on various ulcer models in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 71; 77-82 |
| [26] | Guevara AP, Lim-Sylianco C, Dayrit F, & Finch P. Antimutagens from Momordica charantia. Mutat Res. 1990; 230:121-126. |
| [27] | Scartezzini P & Speroni E. Review on some plants of Indian traditional medicine with antioxidant activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 71: 23-43. |
| [28] | Lee-Huang S, Huang PL, Chen HC, Huang PL, Bourinbaiar A, Huang HI, & Kung HF. Anti-HIV and anti-tumor activities of recombinant MAP30 from bitter melon. Gene, 1995; 161(2):151-6. |
| [29] | Spreafico F, Malfiore C, Moras ML, Marmonti L, Filippeschi S, Barbieri L, Perocco P & Stirpe F. The immunomodulatory activity of the plant proteins Momordica charantia inhibitor and pokeweed antiviral protein. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1983; 5:335-343. |
| [30] | Patil SA & Patil SB. Toxicological studies of Momordica charantia Linn Seed extracts in Male Mice. Int J Morphol. 2011; 29(4):1212-1218. |
| [31] | Singh A, Singh PS & Bamezai R. Momordica charantia L. (Bitter Gourd) peel, pulp, seed and whole fruit extract inhibits mouse skin papillomagenesis. Toxicol Letters. 1998; 94: 37-46. |
| [32] | Kusamran WR, Tepsuwan A & Kupradinun P. Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic potentials of some Thai vegetables. Mutat Res. 1998; 402: 247-258. |
| [33] | Yasui Y, Hosokawa M, Sahara T, Suzuki R, Ohgiya S, Kohno H, Tanaka T & Miyashita K. Bitter gourd seed fatty acid rich in 9c, 11t, 13t-conjugated linolenic acid induces apoptosis and up-regulates the GADD45, p53 and PPARγ in human colon cancer Caco-2 cells. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 2005;73 (2): 113-119. |
| [34] | Fang EF, Zhang CZY, Wong JH, Shen JY, Li CH, Ng TB .The MAP30 protein from bitter gourd Momordica charantia seeds promotes apoptosis in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Letters. 2012; 324(1): 66-74. |
| [35] | Grover JK &Yadav SP. Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Momordica charantia : A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2004; 93(1): 123-132. |
| [36] | Pongnikorn S, Fongmoon D, Kasinrerk W& Limtrakul PN. Effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn) on level and function of natural killer cells in cervical cancer patients with radiotherapy. J Med Assoc Thai. 2003; 86(1): 61-8. |
| [37] | Lii CK, Chen HW, Yun WT & Liu KL. Suppressive effects of wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia Linn. Var. abbreviate ser.) fruit extracts on inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009; 122: 227-233. |
| [38] | Wu SJ & Ng LT. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia Linn. var. abbreviata Ser.) in Taiwan. LWT-Food Science and Technol. 2008; 41:323-330. |
| [39] | Kubola J & Siriamornpun S. Phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) leaf stem and fruit fraction extracts in vitro. Food Chem, 2008; 110: 881-890. |
| [40] | Padmashree A, Sharma GK, Semwal, AD & Bawa AS. Studies on the antioxygenic activity of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and its fractions using various in vitro models. J Science Food Agric. 2011; 91: 776-782. |
| [41] | Zhang QC. Preliminary report on the use of Momordica charantia extract by HIV patients. J Naturopath Med. 1992; 3: 65-69. |
| [42] | Mwambete KD. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of fruit and leaf crude extracts of Momordica charantia: a Tanzania medicinal plant. Afr Health Sci. 2009; 9(1):34-9. |
| [43] | Gupta S, Raychaudhuri B, Banerjee S, Das B, Mukhopadhaya S & Datta SC. Momordicatin purified from fruits of Momordica charantia is effective to act as a potent antileishmania agent. Parasitol Int. 2010; 59(2):192-7. |
| [44] | Noguchi R, Yasui Y, Suzuki R, Hosokawa M, Fukunaga K, & Miyashita K. Dietary effects of bitter gourd oil on blood and liver lipids of rats. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2001; 396: 207-212. |
| [45] | Virdi J, Sivakami S, Shahani S, Suthar AC, Banavalikar MM & Biyani MK. Antihyperglycemic effects of three extracts from Momordica charantia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003; 88: 107-111. |
| [46] | Wehash FE, Abo-Ghanema I & Saleh RM. Some physiological effects of Momordica charantia and Trigonella foenum-graecum extracts in diabetic rats as compared with Cidophage®World. Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. 2012; 64: 1206-1214. |
| [47] | Joseph B, & Jini D. Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) and its medicinal potency, Asian Pac J Trop Dis, 2013; 3: 93-102. |
| [48] | Vijayalakshmi B, kumar SG & Salimath PV. Effect of bitter gourd and spent turmeric on glycoconjugate metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethanopharmacol. 2003; 11: 276-283. |
| [49] | Sureshkumar G, Shetty AK & Salimat PV. Modulatory effect of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia Linn.) on alterations in kidney heparin sulfate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;115: 276-283. |
| [50] | Habicht D, Kind V, Rudloff S, Borsch C, Mueller AS, Pallauf J, Yang R, & Krawinkel MB. Quantification of antidiabetic extracts and compounds in bitter gourd varieties. Food Chem. 2011; 126: 172-176. |
| [51] | Lolitkar MM, Rajarama-Rao MR.. Pharmacology of a hypoglycaemic principle isolated from the fruits of Momordica charantia. Linn. Ind J Pharmacy. 1966; 28: 129-133. |
| [52] | Khanna P, & Mohan S. Isolation and identification of diosgenin and sterols from fruits and in vitro cultures of Momordica charantia Linn. Ind Journal Exp Biol. 1973; 11: 58-60. |
| [53] | Dutta PK, Chakravarty AK, Chowdhury US, Pakrashi SC.. Vicine, a favism-inducing toxin from Momordica charantia Linn. Ind Journal Chem. 1981; 20B: 669-667. |
| [54] | Barron D, Kaouadji M, & Mariotte AM. Etude comparative de deux cucurbitacees a usage medicinal. Planta Medica. 1982; 46: 184-186. |
| [55] | Wang H, Kan W, Cheng T, Yu S, Chang L & Chuu J. 2014. Differential anti-diabetic effects and mechanism of action of charantin-rich extract of Taiwanese Momordica charantia between type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 69, 347-356. |
| [56] | Zhang L, Liaw C, Hsiao P, Huang H, Lin M, Lin Z, Hsu F, Kuo Y. Cucurbitane-type glycosides from the fruits of Momordica charantia and their hypoglycaemic and cytotoxic activities. Journal of Functional Foods. 2014; 6: 564-574. |
| [57] | Husain J, Tickle IJ, & Wood SP. Crystal structure of momordin, a type I ribosome inactivating protein from the seeds of Momordica charantia. FEBS Lett. 1994; 342: 154-158. |
| [58] | Xie H, Huang S, Deng H, Wu Z & Ji A. Study on chemical components of Momordica charantia. Zhong Yao Cai. 1998; 21: 458-459. |
| [59] | Yuan YR, He YN, Xiong JP & Xia ZX. Three-dimensional structure of beta-momorcharin at 2.55A resolution. Acta Crystallographica Section D Biological Crystallography. 1999; 55: 1144-1151. |
| [60] | Parkash A, Ng TB, Tso WW. Purification and characterization of charantin, a napin-like ribosomeinactivating peptide from bittergourd (Momordica charantia) seeds. J Peptide Res. 2002;59: 197-202. |
| [61] | Murakami T, Matsuda EA & Yoshikawa M. Medicinal foodstuffs. Part XXI. Structures of new cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides, goyaglycosides-a, -b, -c, -d, -e, -f, -g, and -h, and new oleanane-type triterpene saponins, goyasaponins I, II, and III, from the fresh fruit of Japanese Momordica charantia L. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2001; 49(1): 54-63. |
| [62] | Zhao G, Liu J, Deng Y, Li H, Chen J, Zhang Z, Zhou L & Qiu M. Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from the stems and leaves of Momordica charantia. Fitoterapia. 2014; 95: 75-82. |
| [63] | Yuwai KE, Sundar RK & Kaluwin CJ. Chemical composition of Momordica charantia L. fruits. J Agric Food Chem. 1991; 39: 1762-1763. |
| [64] | Paul A & Raychaudhur SS. Medicinal Uses and Molecular Identification of Two Momordica charantia Varieties – a review. Electronic J Biol. 2010; 6: 43-51. |
| [65] | Bakare RI, Magbagbeola OA, Akinwande AI, & Okunowo OW. Nutritional and chemical evaluation of Momordica charantia. J Medicinal Plants Res. 2010; 4:2189-2193. |
APA Style
Kandangath Raghavan Anilakumar, Garlapati Phani Kumar, Nallamuthu Ilaiyaraja. (2015). Nutritional, Pharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Momordica Charantia. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 4(1), 75-83. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21
ACS Style
Kandangath Raghavan Anilakumar; Garlapati Phani Kumar; Nallamuthu Ilaiyaraja. Nutritional, Pharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Momordica Charantia. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2015, 4(1), 75-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21
AMA Style
Kandangath Raghavan Anilakumar, Garlapati Phani Kumar, Nallamuthu Ilaiyaraja. Nutritional, Pharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Momordica Charantia. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2015;4(1):75-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21,
author = {Kandangath Raghavan Anilakumar and Garlapati Phani Kumar and Nallamuthu Ilaiyaraja},
title = {Nutritional, Pharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Momordica Charantia},
journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
volume = {4},
number = {1},
pages = {75-83},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20150401.21},
abstract = {Momordica charantia L. (Bitter gourd) is a flowering vine in the family of Cucurbitaceae. It contains an array of novel and biologically active phytochemicals including triterpenes, proteins and steroids. Medicinally, the plant has a long history of use by the indigenous people as a folk medicine. Bitter gourd is often used in Chinese cooking for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries, soups, and also as tea. Pakistan, Philippines, Panama and Nepal also use this bitter vegetable for culinary purposes in addition to India. Several medicinal properties of the bitter gourd have been studied by various researchers, such as anti-diabetic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, anti-tumour, anti-lipolytic, analgesic, abortifacient, anti-viral, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory. In vitro studies reveals that the bitter gourd proteins (α-and β-monorcharin) have inhibitory effect against HIV virus, and leaf extracts have broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity as well. Many in vivo studies have demonstrated the relatively low toxicity of all parts of the bitter gourd plant when ingested orally. This review also addresses taxonomy, phytochemical, culinary practices and pharmacological properties in detail. Over the years scientists have verified many of the traditional uses of this bitter plant that continues to be an important natural remedy in herbal medicine systems. Bitter gourd products such as concentrated fruit and seed extracts can be found in capsules and tablets, as well as in whole herb/vine powder forms and these supplements are becoming more widely available in many countries nowadays as prophylactic or therapeutic agents.},
year = {2015}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Nutritional, Pharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Momordica Charantia AU - Kandangath Raghavan Anilakumar AU - Garlapati Phani Kumar AU - Nallamuthu Ilaiyaraja Y1 - 2015/02/10 PY - 2015 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21 DO - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21 T2 - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences JF - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences JO - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences SP - 75 EP - 83 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2327-2716 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20150401.21 AB - Momordica charantia L. (Bitter gourd) is a flowering vine in the family of Cucurbitaceae. It contains an array of novel and biologically active phytochemicals including triterpenes, proteins and steroids. Medicinally, the plant has a long history of use by the indigenous people as a folk medicine. Bitter gourd is often used in Chinese cooking for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries, soups, and also as tea. Pakistan, Philippines, Panama and Nepal also use this bitter vegetable for culinary purposes in addition to India. Several medicinal properties of the bitter gourd have been studied by various researchers, such as anti-diabetic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, anti-tumour, anti-lipolytic, analgesic, abortifacient, anti-viral, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory. In vitro studies reveals that the bitter gourd proteins (α-and β-monorcharin) have inhibitory effect against HIV virus, and leaf extracts have broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity as well. Many in vivo studies have demonstrated the relatively low toxicity of all parts of the bitter gourd plant when ingested orally. This review also addresses taxonomy, phytochemical, culinary practices and pharmacological properties in detail. Over the years scientists have verified many of the traditional uses of this bitter plant that continues to be an important natural remedy in herbal medicine systems. Bitter gourd products such as concentrated fruit and seed extracts can be found in capsules and tablets, as well as in whole herb/vine powder forms and these supplements are becoming more widely available in many countries nowadays as prophylactic or therapeutic agents. VL - 4 IS - 1 ER -
Information
Email: