Search Results (11)

Natural bioactive compounds found in Momordica charantia including polysaccharides, saponins, polyphenols, alkaloids, and notably polypeptide-p (often referred to as “plant insulin”)—have shown promising potential in shaping nutritional and therapeutic strategies for managing diabetes, metabolic disorders, and other nutrition-related diseases. Both retrospective and prospective analyses of bitter gourd’s functional properties such as its antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial effects highlight its innovative use as a food ingredient in developing targeted nutritional therapies. Assessing its applicability in the food industry, particularly through the fortification of products with bitter gourd powders, pulp, juice, or extracts, could enhance consumer acceptance and elevate the perceived quality of nutritionally superior foods. The nutrifunctional attributes revealed by its nutritional profile support the strategic integration of bitter gourd into various food formulations, contributing to a broader and more diverse range of dietary options. This diversification is especially valuable in addressing the dietary monotony often associated with diabetic nutrition plans, which continue to present significant challenges. The foundation laid by this review drawing on both theoretical insights and practical applications serves as a springboard for future research into the fortifying potential of bitter gourd-based preparations. Ultimately, such products may be recommended not only as nutritional supplements but also as part of clinical and hygienic-dietetic practices. Full article

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that has a significant impact on public health and is becoming more and more common worldwide. Although effective, conventional therapies are often limited by high cost, adverse effects, and issues with patient compliance. As a result, there is growing interest in complementary and alternative therapies. Medicinal plants have played an essential role in diabetes treatment, especially in regions such as Romania, where biodiversity is high and traditional knowledge is well preserved. The pathophysiology, risk factors, and worldwide burden of diabetes are examined in this review, with an emphasis on the traditional use of medicinal plants for glycemic control. A total of 47 plant species were identified based on ethnopharmacological records and recent biomedical research, including both native flora and widely cultivated species. The bioactive compounds identified, such as flavonoids, triterpenic saponins, polyphenols, and alkaloids, have hypoglycemic effects through diverse mechanisms, including β-cell regeneration, insulin-mimetic action, inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, and oxidative stress reduction. A systematic literature search was conducted, including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies relevant to antidiabetic activity. Among the species reviewed, Urtica dioica, Silybum marianum, and Momordica charantia exhibited the most promising antidiabetic activity based on both preclinical and clinical evidence. Despite promising preclinical results, clinical evidence remains limited, and variability in phytochemical content poses challenges to reproducibility. This review highlights the potential of Romanian medicinal flora as a source of adjunctive therapies in diabetes care and underscores the need for standardization and clinical validation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Momordica charantia L. (M. charantia), a widely cultivated and frequently consumed medicinal plant, is utilized in traditional medicine. Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, significant saponin components of M. charantia, exhibit hypoglycemic effects; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: This study utilized comprehensive network pharmacology to identify potential components of M. charantia cucurbitane-type triterpenoids that may influence type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Additionally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were performed to assess the stability of the interactions between the selected components and key targets. Results: In total, 22 candidate active components of M. charantia cucurbitane-type triterpenoids and 1165 disease targets for T2DM were identified through database screening. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for five key components (Kuguacin J, 25-O-methylkaravilagenin D, Momordicine I, momordic acid, and Kuguacin S) and three key targets (AKT1, IL6, and SRC), and the results demonstrated stable binding. The experimental results indicate that the interactions between momordic acid-AKT1 and momordic acid-IL6 are stable. Conclusions: Momordic acid may play a crucial role in M. charantia’s regulation of T2DM, and AKT1 and IL6 seem to be key targets for the therapeutic action of M. charantia in managing T2DM. Full article

Momordica charantia L. saponins (MCS) may promote wound-healing properties but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects and mechanisms of MCS on diabetic wounds. The results have shown that higher MCS intake lowered fasting blood glucose levels, serum lipids, and lipopolysaccharides in diabetic mice. MCS-treated diabetic mice exhibited faster wound healing than the diabetic control groups. After three days, the diabetic control groups exhibited a wound area reduction of only 19.3%, while a 39.75% reduction was observed following high-dose MCS treatment. Five potential biomarkers were screened in the metabolomics study. The results revealed that MCS mainly regulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and the Krebs cycle, thus affecting wound healing. Overall, MCS could not only exert a hypoglycemic effect but also promote diabetic wound healing, making it a potential treatment option for diabetes-related wounds. Full article

We live in a society where extending one’s healthy lifespan is becoming increasingly important. Momordica charantia (MC) extract contains many bioactive substances, such as vitamin D, phytosterols, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, and triterpenes, and has various health-promoting effects, but its effect on extending a healthy lifespan is unknown. This study investigated the effects of MC extract on a healthy lifespan, focusing on bitter taste receptors and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Male and female mice from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) were divided into control and MC-extract-treated groups, with the latter receiving oral doses of MC extract three times a week for two years. In aged male mice, MC extract increased the muscle mass and grip strength and prolonged the time to exhaustion. MC extract also enhanced the signaling from taste receptor type 2 member 1 (T2R1) to mTOR in muscle in both sexes, elevating the ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 and ribosomal protein S6 levels. This T2R1/mTOR pathway works in protein synthesis and is important for increasing muscle mass. Conversely, the levels of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 decreased in both aged male and female mice after MC extract administration. These findings suggest that the administration of MC extract may extend the healthy lifespan of male mice, with bitter taste receptors and mTOR signaling playing key roles in this process. Full article

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) is rich in saponins, which have multiple biological effects. In this study, the total saponins of M. charantia were extracted by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technology. The optimal extraction process was determined (ethanol concentration 68%, pressure-holding time 8 min, ratio of material to solvent 1:35 and pressure 510 MPa), and the extraction amount of saponins reached 127.890 mg/g. On this basis, an ionic liquid-based aqueous biphasic system was constructed to purify the total saponins. Under the optimized conditions, the purity of M. charantia saponins was 76.06%. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was used to characterize the saponins in the purified extract of M. charantia. It was found that there were four kinds of saponins in the extract of M. charantia: kuguaglycoside A, momordicoside L, kuguacin B and kuguacin J, providing a basis for the study of the biological activity of saponins. Full article

Wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviata S.) is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine and is also a vegetable and fruit that people eat daily. Wild bitter gourd has many bioactive components, such as saponin, polysaccharide, and protein, and the extract is used to adjust blood sugar in patients with diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate simultaneous hot air-assisted radio frequency (HARF) drying and pasteurization for bitter gourd extract, and then to evaluate its effects on blood sugar of type II diabetic mice. The results showed that the solid–liquid ratio of the wild bitter gourd powder to water was 1:10 and it was extracted using focused ultrasonic extraction (FUE) for only 10 min with 70 °C water. Then, 1 kg of concentrated bitter gourd extract was mixed with soybean fiber powder at a ratio of 2:1.1. It was dried by HARF, and the temperature of the sample could reach above 80 °C in only 12 min to simultaneously reduce moisture content (wet basis) from 58% to 15% and achieve a pasteurization effect to significantly reduce the total bacterial and mold counts. Type II diabetic mice induced by nicotinamide and streptozocin (STZ) for two weeks and then were fed four-week feeds containing 5% RF-dried wild gourd extract did not raise fasting blood glucose. Therefore, the dried powder of wild bitter gourd extracts by HARF drying had a hypoglycemic effect. Full article

Background: Globally, the application of medicinal plants in the management of acute and chronic wounds can be considered a common occurrence in most traditional medicine practices. In view of this, many plants in the tropical and subtropical regions have been screened for their wound-healing activities. Consequently, plants having antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MD-R) pathogens can be considered great assets. Therefore, this study evaluated ethanolic and aqueous extracts of five medicinal plants (Psidium guajava, Myrianthus arboreus, Alchornea cordifolia, Momordica charantia, and Justicia flava) for their antimicrobial activities against MD-R bacterial pathogens isolated from post-operative wounds; Methods: This involved the aqueous and ethanolic extraction of the selected medicinal plants. Preliminary phytochemical constituents of the plants were examined. The agar well diffusion method was then used to determine the antibacterial activity of the leaves against reference strains (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain) as well as the MDR clinical isolates (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and CoNS) from the wounds; Results: The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the leaves showed the presence of saponins, phenolics, and reducing sugars in almost all the plants tested. All plant extracts were observed to have some antimicrobial activity against at least one reference strain. For the clinical MDR isolates, A. cordifolia from this study showed highest inhibition to growth of all bacteria used. Activity of J. flava against S. aureus was highest as compared to that of E.coli and P. aeruginosa. Similar observation was made for M. arboreus, P. guajava and M. charantia where the highest activity was observed against S. aureus; Conclusion: This study has mainly shown that P. guajava, M. arboreus, A. cordifolia, M. charantia, and J. flava exhibits antimicrobial activities against MD-R bacterial pathogens isolated from post-operative wounds. Also, these plants has bioactive phytochemical compounds with potential medicinal values for the treatment of numerous infections. Therefore, these plants may be helpful in the management of acute and chronic wounds, especially in traditional medicine practices. Full article

Momordica charantia (M. charantia), commonly known as bitter gourd, bitter melon, kugua, balsam pear, or karela, is a tropical and sub-tropical vine belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It has been used to treat a variety of diseases in the traditional medicine of China, India, and Sri Lanka. Here, we review the anti-obesity effects of various bioactive components of M. charantia established at the cellular and organismal level. We aim to provide links between various bioactive components of M. charantia and their anti-obesity mechanism. An advanced search was conducted on the worldwide accepted scientific databases via electronic search (Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ACS Publications, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, SciFinder, CNKI) database with the query TS = “Momordica charantia” and “obesity”. Information was also obtained from International Plant Names Index, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chinese herbal classic books, online databases, PhD and MSc dissertations, etc. First, studies showing the anti-obesity effects of M. charantia on the cells and on animals were classified. The major bioactive components that showed anti-obesity activities included proteins, triterpenoids, saponins, phenolics, and conjugated linolenic acids. Their mechanisms included inhibition of fat synthesis, promotion of glucose utilization, and stimulation of auxiliary lipid-lowering activity. Finally, we summarized the risks of excessive consumption of M. charantia and the application. Although further research is necessary to explore various issues, this review establishes the therapeutic potential of M. charantia and it is highly promising candidate for the development of anti-obesity health products and medicines. Full article

Momordica charantia L. (M. charantia), a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, and its fruit has been used as a vegetable for thousands of years. Phytochemicals including proteins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpenes, saponins, ascorbic acid and steroids have been found in this plant. Various biological activities of M. charantia have been reported, such as antihyperglycemic, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, immunomodulation, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anthelmintic, antimutagenic, antiulcer, antilipolytic, antifertility, hepatoprotective, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, both in vitro and in vivo studies have also demonstrated that M. charantia may also exert toxic or adverse effects under different conditions. This review addresses the chemical constituents of M. charantia and discusses their pharmacological activities as well as their adverse effects, aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the phytochemistry and biological activities of M. charantia. Full article

Two new bidesmoside triterpenoid saponins which were identifed as 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[α-L-rhamno-pyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-fucopyranosyl gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (C1) and 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-fucopyranosyl gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-gluco-pyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (C2) were isolated together with two known compounds from the seeds of Momordica charantia L. Their structures were elucidated by the combination of mass spectrometry (MS), one and two-dimensional NMR experiments and chemical reactions. Full article