English Name: Bitter melon is also known as bitter gourd or balsam-pear
Latin Name: Momordica charantia
Description
Bitter melon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and grows in the tropical and subtropical regions. Fruits of this plant have a bitter taste, which may the reason the plant is named bitter melon. The plant is classified under climbers. This plant has branches with a green hairy or hairless stem. The bitter melon plant is an annual, but it can be perennial also. The leaves of this plant have an unpleasant smell during crushing. The bitter melon plant bears both male and female flowers. The fruits are an egg-shaped outer covering of the bitter melon having longitudinal ridges and warts. Unripe bitter melon fruits have whitish pulp with white seeds; with maturity, the pulp becomes yellowish color with radish seeds.
The native places of bitter melon are Australia and Africa. In America bitter melon plant is cultivated. [1]
History-story
The actual origin of bitter melon may be in China and India; however, there was no evidence. West African slaves might introduce bitter melon to America. The US National Herbarium mentioned that Bitter melon was first brought to Puerto Rico in 1885. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, Asian people, who resided in America initiated Bitter melon cultivation in the tropical region and southern part of the USA. [1]
Traditionally, bitter melon is used as a culinary vegetable in India and Bangladesh. Bitter melon takes its place in folk medicine due to its anti-diabetic effect. Folk medicine of many developing countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Ghana, Haiti, Malaya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Panama use bitter melon for treating different diseases like dysmenorrhea, emmenagogue, eczema, gout, galactagogue, jaundice, kidney stone, leucorrhea, leprosy, pneumonia, piles, psoriasis, rheumatism, and scabies.[2]
Main constituents
Bitter melon contains glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, triterpenes, steroids, proteins, and fixed oils. Other specific bioactive phytochemicals are Phenolic and Flavonoids Compounds. Bitter melon is also a rich source of several essential micro and macronutrients. Interesting facts are about bitter melon are:
- It contains two times greater β-carotene than broccoli
- It contains two times greater calcium content than spinach
- It contains two times greater potassium content than bananas. [3]
Benefits backed with scientific evidence
Research evidence obtained from different sources showed the following health benefits of bitter melon:
Weight management
Animal study evidence indicated that bitter melon has an anti-obesity effect, as it prevents fat diet-induced fat mass accumulation and related weight gain in rats in the laboratory. Bitter melon may stimulate fatty acid oxidation, which influences fat burning in the body and leads to weight loss.
In addition, bitter melon also efficiently works in the liver, pancreas, and fat cells to control weight gain.
Bitter melon reduces fatty acid synthesis and decreases fat production in the liver.
Bitter melon activates both PPAR-α and PPAR-γ receptors present in the pancreas to reduce triglyceride levels and insulin sensitization.
In fat cells, bitter melon juice activates lipolysis and decreases visceral fat mass. A human study report also showed a significant reduction in waist circumference with supplementation of bitter melon.[2]
Diabetes management
Traditional folk medicine suggested bitter melon juice for controlling hyperglycemia (blood glucose level enhancement). Blood glucose level enhancement is the primary sign of diabetic patients. Bitter melon controls diabetes by regulating pancreas functioning. Animal study and laboratory test reports showed that bitter melon juice increases insulin secretion. It also helps in the steady production of insulin by protecting the pancreatic beta cells of Langerhans. Bitter melon also influences the functioning of PPAR-γ and reduces insulin sensitization.
The animal model test reported that Bitter melon juice could lower blood glucose levels within three weeks of treatment. The anti-diabetic effect of bitter melon is due to several other reasons like improvement of glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and insulin signaling. These effects are achieved as bitter melon may have the following mechanism of action:
- decreases glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract
- the utilization of glucose in the tissues become enhances
- increases metabolism of glucose
- promotes insulin-like action
- increase pancreatic beta cell functioning [2]
Two case studies conducted on diabetic patients showed a significant reduction in both fasting and postprandial glucose levels. It has been reported that bitter melon has a synergistic action with other hypoglycemic medications. [4,5]
Cholesterol level management
Bitter melon is effective to manage cholesterol levels in the blood. Increased cholesterol level due to overproduction is one of the primary causes of dyslipidemia. The other features of dyslipidemia are the excess production of lipoprotein and abnormal lipoprotein metabolism etc. All these factors also influence obesity. In diabetic patients, high cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids are common problems. Animal study data showed that bitter melon fruit juice could lower hepatic production of cholesterol and triglycerides. Bitter melon effectively lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increases HDL (good cholesterol) levels in the body. [2]
Improves cardiovascular dysfunctions
Hypertension and other vascular dysfunctions are common metabolic disorders associated with obese and diabetic patients and cause heart diseases. An animal study reported that whole plant parts of bitter melon normalize blood pressure. Bitter melon controls hypertension by regulating the acetylcholine pathway and limiting the activities of angiotensin-converting enzymes. [2]
Hepatoprotective effect
The liver is a primary organ that participates in different metabolic functions and affects overall health. Bitter melon is a potent antioxidant and provides a hepatoprotective effect. Bitter melon prevents the accumulation of fats in the liver and also reduces fatty diet-induced steatosis in the liver. Thus bitter melon is effective to treat fatty liver.[2]
Antioxidant effect
Bitter melon has an excellent antioxidant property, as it prevents free radical synthesis, and lipid peroxidation and enhances chelating activity. Bitter melon leaves and fruit juice can act as a scavenger of free radicals. The anti-oxidant property of bitter melon is evaluated through animal study.[2]
Anticancer
The cytotoxic effect of bitter melon is effective against different types of cancer cells. A potent antioxidant effect also influences the anti-mutagenic effect that prevents unwanted cell growth. Research study findings support that supplementation of bitter melon prevents breast cancer. [6]
Anti-microbial effect
Bitter melon is effective to treat bacterial infections, which are specifically caused by E. coli, S. aureus, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptobacillus, and Pseudomonas. An article published in PubMed mentioned that bitter melon has a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect.[6] The anthelmintic property of Bitter melon effectively treats malaria. The anti-viral effect of bitter melon seed extract inhibits HIV. [3]
Beauty enhancing effect
Bitter melon fruit juice with yogurt is a natural hair shine enhancer. The application of bitter melon juice on the scalp can solve dandruff problems, reduce grey hair growth, and decrease hair-splitting. It also improves skin complexion, removes acne, and provides flawless skin. [3]
Indications and use
The following are the most usual indications and uses of bitter melon:
- Anti-diabetic
- Anti-obesity
- Anti-hypertensive
- Treating dyslipidemia
- Immunity booster
- Anti-microbial effect
- Cancer preventive action
- Digestive disorders
- Menstrual problems
How to use Bitter melon as healing and food at home
Regular consumption of fresh bitter melon juice has many health benefits, especially for diabetic patients by reducing blood glucose levels. In the market, bitter melon supplementation formulation is available. You can also easily extract the juice of the fruits at home for regular consumption. The recommended dose of fresh juice is 50-100 mL/day. [7]
Most of all may not prefer bitter melon juice incorporation into our daily diet chart due to its unpleasant bitter taste. Bitter melon can be used as a culinary vegetable also. Many tasty recipes can be prepared from bitter melon. One such recipe is as follows:
Recipe: Bitter Melon Smoothie
Ingredients
- Chopped bitter melon – 100 gm (without seeds)
- Orange – 2 (whole)
- Water melon- 8 – 10 dice (medium sized)
Direction
In a blender, add chopped bitter melon and blend it. Then add orange and watermelon into the blender jar. Blend all the ingredients. No need to put extra water to prepare this tasty smoothie. [8]
References
- http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/34678
- Md Ashraful Alam, Riaz Uddin, Nusrat Subhan, Md Mahbubur Rahman, Preeti Jain, Hasan Mahmud Reza. Beneficial Role of Bitter Melon Supplementation in Obesity and Related Complications in Metabolic Syndrome. Hindawi Publishing Corporation. Journal of Lipids. Volume 2015, Article ID 496169, 18 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/496169. Online available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4306384/
- Bina Rani, Dr Bhanwar Lal Jat , Manoj Pandey, Jayant Malhotra, Lalit mohan, Prem Singh Bugasara, Raaz K Maheshwari. Dietetic Corollary of Momordica Charantia for Vivaciousness and Sanguinity. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Bio-Science. Online available at http://www.ijprbs.com/issuedocs/2014/4/IJPRBS%20602.pdf
- Ahmad, M. R. Hassan, H. Halder, and K. S. Bennoor, “Effect of Momordica charantia (Karolla) extracts on fasting and postprandial serum glucose levels in NIDDM patients,” Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 11–13, 1999.
- Tongia, S. K. Tongia, and M. Dave, “Phytochemical determination and extraction of Momordica charantia fruit and its hypoglycemic potentiation of oral hypoglycemic drugs in diabetes mellitus (NIDDM),” Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 241–244, 2004.
- Baby Joseph, D Jini. Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia(bitter melon) and its medicinal potency. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 2013 Apr; 3(2): 93–102. doi: 1016/S2222-1808(13)60052-3. Online available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4027280/
- Tori Hudson. Bitter Melon: A review of its indications, efficacy and safety. Online available at http://cdn.naturaldispensary.com/downloads/A%20Research%20Review%20of%20Bitter%20Melon.pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unq-X7kHr6k