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

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 Ame...