Anti-diabetic and hypoglycaemic effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon): a mini review

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 102; no. 12; pp. 1703 - 1708
• Main Authors: Leung, Lawrence, Birtwhistle, Richard, Kotecha, Jyoti, Hannah, Susan, Cuthbertson, Sharon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2009
• Subjects: administration & dosage; adverse effects; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; analysis; animal models; Animals; case studies; chemistry; Clinical Trials as Topic; Complementary and alternative medicine; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; dietary supplements; drug therapy; Female; Fruit; Fruit - chemistry; functional foods; Humans; Hypoglycaemic agents; hypoglycemic agents; Hypoglycemic Agents - administration & dosage; literature reviews; Male; medicinal plants; Momordica charantia; Momordica charantia - adverse effects; Momordica charantia - chemistry; phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Leaves; Plant Leaves - chemistry; postprandial state; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rats; Seeds; Seeds - chemistry; toxicity; traditional medicine; Triterpenes; Triterpenes - analysis
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114509992054

It has been estimated that up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Momordica charantia (bitter melon) is a popular fruit used for the treatment of diabetes and related conditions amongst the indigenous populations of Asia, South America, India and East Africa. Abundant pre-clinical studies have documented the anti-diabetic and hypoglycaemic effects of M. charantia through various postulated mechanisms. However, clinical trial data with human subjects are limited and flawed by poor study design and low statistical power. The present article reviews the clinical data regarding the anti-diabetic potentials of M. charantia and calls for better-designed clinical trials to further elucidate its possible therapeutic effects.