Bitter Melon Extract

Bitter Melon Extract 1>Total saponins 10% and 30% 2>Anti-diabetic, anti-virus

Bitter Melon Extract

Origin

Charantin is a chemical substance obtained from the Asian bitter melon (Momordica charantia), reputed to be responsible for the hypoglycaemic properties of those plants.

Description

Charantin is actually a 1:1 mixture of two steroidal saponins, β-sitosteryl glucoside (C35H60O6) and 5,25-stigmasteryl glucoside (C35H58O6). It is a whitish crystalline substance, neutral and tasteless, melting at 266–268°C. It is sparingly soluble in water[1] or other highly polar solvents, as well as in apolar solvents like hexane, but is soluble in ether, ethanol and methanol, and can be efficently extracted from the plant by pressurized ethanol or acetone at 100°

Efficacy

1. Anti-diabetic ActivityBittermelon contains steroidal saponins known as charantin, insulin-like peptides and alkaloids, which gives it hypoglycemic ability. Charantin stimulates the release of insulin and blocks the formation of glucose in the bloodstream, which may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes particularly in non-insulin dependent diabetes. The hypoglycemic effect is attributed to two factors: (1)Charantin- a crystalline fraction obtained from an alcoholic extract of the fruit. Charantin administered at a 50mg/kg dose reduced hyperglycemia in rabbits by 42%. Charantin posesses pancreatic and extra-pancreatic action, and has a slight antispasmodic and anticholinergic effect. (2)P-isulin (or v-insulin, for vegetable insulin). This is a large polypeptide structurally and pharmacologically comparable to bovine insulin. The p-insulin is composed of two polypeptide chains bound together by disulphide bonds. Subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of p-insulin produced hypoglysemic effects in diabetic patients, the peak effect was observed after 4-8 hours as compared to 2 hours for bovine insulin.

2. Anti-virus activity and etc.Extracts standardized have proven efficacy in psoriasis, cancer infections, pain from neurological complications, and may delay the onset of cataracts or retinopathy and inhibit the AIDS virus through destroying viral DNA. The anti-cancer property is due in part to an enhancement of immune function. Study has shown that bitter melon extracts suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage and lymphocyte activity.Support The antidiabetic effects of M.Charantica are clearly demonstrated using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellites in the rabbit. The STZ induces an increase in blood sugar accompanied with an increase in blood urea, serum creatinine, serum cholesterol, free fatty acids, and a fall in glycogen reserve in the liver and loss of body weight. Ground bitter melon seed given with the rabbit food has a hypoglycemic effect on blood sugar levels which is accompanied by hypolipemic.

 

Bitter Melon Extract