Beneficial effect and mechanism of action of Momordica charantia in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: A mini review

International Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism

Volumn 11, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 46-55

  Garau, Celia ^a   Cummings, E ^b   Phoenix, David A ^b   Singh, Jaipaul ^b  

^a UNIVERSITAT DE LES ILLES BALEARS   (Spain)

^b UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

cells; Anti carcinogenic; Diabetes mellitus; Glucose transport; Hypertension; Hypoglycaemia; Insulin; Momordica charantia; Myelinated fibres; Oxidative stress; Xenobiotic metabolism

Indexed keywords

2,4 THIAZOLIDINEDIONE DERIVATIVE; 3 O GLUCURONIDE; ALPHA GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITOR; BIGUANIDE DERIVATIVE; CHARANTIN; CYTOCHROME P450; GLIBENCLAMIDE; GLUTATHIONE; GLUTATHIONE TRANSFERASE; GYMNESIA SYLVESTRE EXTRACT; INSULIN; MOMORDICA CHARANTIA EXTRACT; MOMORDIN; ORAL ANTIDIABETIC AGENT; PLANT EXTRACT; POLYPEPTIDE P; SODIUM GLUCOSE COTRANSPORTER; SULFONYLUREA DERIVATIVE;

ANTINEOPLASTIC ACTIVITY; ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY; CLINICAL FEATURE; DIABETES MELLITUS; DIABETIC NEUROPATHY; DOSE RESPONSE; DRUG MECHANISM; FRUIT JUICE; GLUCOSE TOLERANCE; GLUCOSE TRANSPORT; GYMNESIA SYLVESTRE; HUMAN; HYPERGLYCEMIA; HYPERTENSION; INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS; INSULIN RELEASE; INSULIN SENSITIVITY; LIPID PEROXIDATION; MYELINATED NERVE; NON INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS; NONHUMAN; OXIDATIVE STRESS; PANCREAS ISLET BETA CELL; PLANT; REVIEW; STREPTOZOCIN DIABETES; SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE; XENOBIOTIC METABOLISM;

EID: 26244447838     PISSN: 16067754     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (75)

1. Kumar PJ, Clark M. Textbook of Clinical Medicine. Pub: Saunders (London), pp1099-1121, 2002.
2. King H, Aubert R, Heiman W. Global burden of diabetes, 1995-2025. Prevalence, numerical estimates and projections. Diabetes Care 1998; 21: 1414-1431.
3. Amos A, McCarty D, Zimmet P. The rising global burden of diabetes and its complications, estimates and projections to the year 2010. Diabetic Med 1997; 14:S1-S85.
4. Zimmet P. Globalization, coca-colonization and the chronic disease epidemic: can the Doomsday scenario be averted? J Intern Med 2000; 247: 301-310.
5. Zimmet P, Shaw J, Alberti KG. Preventing Type 2 diabetes and the dysmetabolic syndrome in the real world: a realistic view. Diabet Med 2003; 20: 693-702.
6. Zimmet P, Alberti KGMM, Shaw T. Global and societal implications of diabetes epidemic. Nature 2001; 414: 782-787.
7. Harrison LC, Honeyman MC. Cow's milk and type 1 diabetes: the real debate is about mucosal immune function. Diabetes 1999; 48:1501-1507.
8. Zimmet P, Dowse G, Finch C, Serjeantson S, King H. The epidemiology and natural history of NIDDM-lessons from the South Pacific. Diabetes Metab Rev 1990; 6:91-124.
9. Harris A, Zimmet P. Classification of Diabetes Mellitus and other categories of glucose intolerance. In: International Textbook of Diabetes Mellitus Alberti KGM (Ed) Wiley John & Sons 1997; 9-23
10. Miller CD, Phillips LS, Ziemer DC, Gallina DL, Cook CB, El-Kebbi IM. Hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med. 2001; 161: 1653-1659.
11. Grossman E, Messerli FH. Diabetic and hypertensive heart disease. Ann Int Med 1996; 125: 304-310.
12. Kannel WB, McGee DL. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. JAMA 1979; 241: 2035-2038.
13. Knentz AJ, Nattras M. Diabetic ketoacidosis , non ketotic hyperosmolar coma and lactic acidosis. In: Handbook of Diabetes Pickup JC, Williams G (Eds) 2nd editions, Blackwell Science, 1991 479-494.
14. Atta-Ur-Rahman, Zaman K. Medicinal plants with hypoglycemic activity. J Ethnopharmacol 1989; 26:1-55.
15. Platel K, Srinivasan K. Plant foods in the nanagement of Diabetes mellitus: vegetables as potential hypoglycaemic agents. Nahrung 1997; 41: 68-74.
16. Ng TB, Liu WK, Sze SF, Young HW. Action of alphamomorcharin, a ribosome inactivating protein, on cultured tumor cell lines. Gen Pharmacol 1994; 25: 75-77.
17. Akhtar MS. Trial of Momordica charantia Linn (Karela) powder in patients with maturity-onset diabetes. J Pak Med Assoc 1982; 32:106-107.
18. Karunanayake EH, Welihinda J, Sirimanne SR, Sinnadorai G. Oral hypoglycaemic activity of some medicinal plants of Sri Lanka. J Ethnopharmacol 1984; 11: 223-231.
19. Day C, Cartwright T, Provost J, Bailey CJ. Hypoglycaemic effect of Mormodica charantia extracts. Planta Med 1990; 56: 426-429.
20. Rao BK, Kesavulu MM, Apparao C. Antihyperglycemic activity of Momordica cymbalaria in alloxan diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2001; 78: 67-71.
21. Chandrasekar B, Mukherjee B, Mukherjee SK. Blood sugar lowering potentiality of selected Cucurbitaccae plants of Indian origin. Indian J Med Res 1989; 96: 300-305.
22. Karunanayake EH, Jeevathayaparan S, Tennekoon KH. Effect of Momordica charantia fruit juice on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 1990; 30:199-204.
23. Sarkar S, Pranava M, Marita R. Demonstration of the hypoglycemic action of Momordica charantia in a validated animal model of diabetes. Pharmacol Res 1996; 33:1-4.
24. Miura T, Itoh C, Iwamoto N, et al. Hypoglycemic activity of the fruit of the Momordica charantia in type 2 diabetic mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2001; 47:340-344.
25. Leatherdale BA, Panesar RK, Singh G, TW Atkins, Bailey CJ, Bignell AHC. Improvement in glucose tolerance due to Momordica charantia (karela). Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981; 282:1823-1824.
26. Akhar MS, Athar MA, Yaqub M. Effect of Momordica charantia on blood glucose level of normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits. Planta Medica 1981; 42: 205-212.
27. Bailey CJ, Day C, Turner SL, Leatherdale BA. Cerasee, a traditional treatment for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetic Res 1985; 2: 81-84.
28. Kedar P, Chakrabarti CH. Effects of bittergourd (Momordica charantia) seed and glibenclamide in streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus. Indian J Exp Biol 1982; 20: 232-235.
29. Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003; 60:356-359.
30. Ahmed I, Adeghate E, Sharma AK, Pallot DJ, Singh J. Effects of Mormodica Charantia fruit juice on islet morphology in the pancreas of streptozotocin diabetic rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1998; 40, 145-151.
31. Platel. K, Shurpalekar KS, Srinivasan K. Influence of bitter gourd ( Momordica charanda) on growth and blood constituents in albino rats. Nahrung 1993; 37: 156-160.
32. Platel K, Srinivasan K. Effect of dietary intake of freeze-dried bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Nahrung 1995; 39: 262-268.
33. Sitasawad SL, Shewade Y, Bhonde R. Role of bitter ground fruit juice in STZ-ihduced diabetic state in vivo and in vitro. J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 73: 71-79.
34. Jayasooriya AP, Sakaono M, Yukizaki C, Kawano M, Yakamoto K, Fukuda N. Effects of Momordika charantia powder on serum glucose levels and various lipid parameters in rats fed with cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diets. J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 72:331-336.
35. Welihinda. J, Karunanayake EH, Sheriff MBR, Jayasinghe KSA. Effect of Mormodica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 1986; 17: 277-282.
36. Welihinda J, Arvidson G, Gylfe E, Hellman B, Karlsson E. The insulin releasing activity of the tropical plant Mormodica Charantia. Acta Biol Med Germ 1982; 41: 1229-1240.
37. Singh N, Tyagi SD, Agarwat SC. Effect of long term feeding of acetone extract of Momordica charantia (whole plant powder) on alloxan diabetic albino rats. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1989; 33: 97-100.
38. Shibib BA, Khan LA, Rahman R. Hypoglycemic activity of Coccinia indica and Mormodica. charantia in diabetic rats: depression of the hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes glucose 6 phosphatase and fructose 1,6 biphosphatase and elevation of both liver and red cell shunt enzyme glucose 6 phosphatase dehydrogenase. Biochem. J 1993; 292: 267-270.
39. Ali L, Khan AK, Mamun MI, et al. Studies on hypoglycaermc in effects of fruit pulp seed and whole plant of Mormodica charantia on normal and diabetic model rats. Planta Medica 1993; 59: 408-412.
40. Parkash A, Ng TB, Tso WW. Purification and characterization of charantin, a napin-like ribosome-inactivating peptide from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), seeds. J Pept Res 2002; 59:197-202.
41. Khanna P, Jain SC, Panagaritya A, Dixit VP. Hypoglycaemic activity of polypeptide-P from a plant source. J Nat Prod 1981; 44: 648-655.
42. Meir P, Yaniv N. A vitro study on the effects of Mormodica charantia on glucose uptake, and glucose metabolism in rats. Plant Medica 1985; 1:12-16.
43. Bailey CJ, Day C, Turner SL, Leatherdale BA. Cerasee, a traditional treatment for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Res 1985; 2:81-84.
44. Matsuda, H, Li Y, Murakami, Matsumura N, Yamahara J and Yoshikawa M. Antidiabetic principles of natural medicines. III. Structure related inhibitory activity and action mode of oleanolic acid glycosides on hypoglycaemic activity. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1988; 46:1399-1403.
45. Higashino H, Suzuki A, Tanaka Y, Pootakham K. Hypoglicaemic effects of Siamese Mormodica charantia and Phyllanthus urinasia extracts in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Folia Pharmacol Jap 1992; 100: 415-421.
46. Ahmed I. Effects of M. Charantia fruit juice on experimental diabetes and its complications. PhD Thesis, University of Central Lancashire, 1999.
47. Dyer J, Garner A, Wood IS, Sharma AK, Chandranath I, Shirazi-Beechey, SP. Changes in the level of intestinal Na+glucose co-transporter (SGLT1) in experimental diabetes. Biochem Soc Trans 1997; 25: 479S.
48. Matsuda H, Li Y, Murakami T, Yamahara J, Yoshikawa M. Structure-related inhibitory activity of oleanolic acid glycosides on gastric emptying in mice. Bioorg Med Chem 1999; 7:323-327.
49. Jeevathayaparan S, Tennekoon KH, Karunanayake EH. A comparative study of the oral hypoglycaemic effect of Mormodica charantia fruit juice and tolbutamide in streptozotocin induced graded severity diabetes in the rat. Int J Diabetes 1995; 3: 99-108.
50. Bracken NK, Singh J, Winlow W, Howarth FC. Mechanisms underlying contractile dysfunction in streptozotocin- induced type 1 and type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy. In: Atherosclerosis, Hypertension and Diabetes, Eds. Pierce GN, Nagano M, Zaharadka P, and Dhalla NS, Kluwer, Boston, pp 387-408, 2003.
51. Julien J. Cardiac complications in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Diabetes Complications 1997; 11: 123-130.
52. Sowers JR. Recommendations for special populations: diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome. Am J Hypertension 2003; 16(11 Suppl): 41-45.
53. Cummings E, Hundal H, Wackerhage H, Woods N, Singh J. Effect of Momordica charantia fruit juice on glucose and amino acid transport in L6 myotubes. J Physiol 2002; 543P: 14P.
54. Kroncke KD, Fehsel K, Sommer A, Rodriguez ML, Kolb-Bachofen V. Nitric oxide generation during cellular metabolization of the diabetogenic N-methyl-N-nitroso-urea streptozotocin contributes to islet cell DNA damage. Biol Chem Hoppe-Seyler 1995; 376: 179-185.
55. Masiello P, Novelli M, Fierabracci V, Bergamini E. Protection by 3-aminobenzamide and nicotinamide against streptozotocin-induced beta-cell toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1990; 69: 17-32.
56. Nickander KK, Schmelzer JD, Rohwer DA, Low PA. Effect of alpha-tocopherol deficiency on indices of oxidative stress in normal and diabetic peripheral nerve. J Neurol Sci 1994; 126: 6-14.
57. Shanmugasundaram ER, Gopinath KL, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Rajendran VM. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin-diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. Ethnopharmacol 1990; 30:265-279.
58. Das AV, Padayatti PS, Paulose CS. Effect of leaf extract Aegle marmelose (L) correa ex Roxb on histological and ultrastructural changes in tissues of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Indian J Exp Biol 1996; 34: 341-345.
59. Rao RM, Salem FA, Gleason-Jordan I. Antidiabetic effects of a dietary supplement "pancreas tonic". J Natl Med Assoc 1998; 10: 614-618.
60. Adeghate E, Donath T. Distribution of neuropeptide-Y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactive nerves in normal and transplanted pancreatic tissue. Peptides 1990; 11: 1087-1092.
61. Pons P, Aoki A. Differential proliferation of somatostatin and glucagons cells in rat pancreatic islets submitted to different stimuli. Ann Anat 1995; 177: 221-227.
62. Wang RN, Bouwens L, Kloppel, G. Beta cells proliferation in normal and streptozotocin treated newborn rats: site, dynamics and capacity. Diabetologia 1994; 37: 1088-1096.
63. Raza H, Ahmed I, John A, Sharma AK. Modulation of xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed with Momordica charantia fruit extract. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2000; 14:131-139.
64. Raza H, Ahmed I, Lakhani MS, Sharma AK, Pallot D, Montague W. Effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) fruit juice on the hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferases in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Biochem Pharmacol 1996; 52:1639-1642.
65. Singh A, Singh SP, Bamezai R. Postnatal efficacy of Momordica charantia peel, pulp, seed and whole fruit extract in the detoxication pathway of suckling neonates and lactating mice. Cancer Lett 1998;122:121-126.
66. Kumara WR, Ratanavila A, Tepsuwan A. Effects of neem flowers, Thai and Chinese bitter gourd fruits and sweet basil leaves on hepatic monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferase activities, and in vitro metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 1998; 36: 475-484.
67. Ganguly C, De S, Das S. Prevention of carcinogen-induced mouse skin papilloma by whole fruit aqueous extract of Momordica charantia. Eur J Cancer Prev 2000; 9: 283-238.
68. Ward JD, Tesfaye S. Pathogenesis of neuropathy, In: Textbook of diabetes, Vol.2. (Eds. Pickup, J.C., Williams, G.) Blackwell Science Publications, 1997.
69. Sharma AK, Thomas PK, Gabriel G, Stolinski C, Dockery P, Hollins GW. Peripheral nerve abnormalities in the diabetic mutant mouse. Diabetes 1983; 32:1152-1161.
70. Britland ST, Sharma AK, Duguid IGM, Thomas PK. Ultrastructural observations on myelinated fibre size in the tibial nerve of streptozotocin diabetic rats: effect of insulin treatment. Life support Syst 1985; 3(suppl 1): 524-529.
71. Britland ST, von Zimmermann O, Sharma AK, Bretzel Rd, Federlin K. The effect of pancreatic islet transplantation on experimental diabetic neuropathy. J Neurol Sci 1991; 105: 168-174.
72. Cotter MA, Love A, Watt MJ, Cameron NE, Dines KC. Effects of natural free radical scavengers on peripheral nerve and neurovascular function in diabetic rats. Diabetologia. 1995; 38:1285-1294.
73. Karasu C, Dewhurst M, Stevens EJ, Tomlinson DR. Effects of anti-oxidant treatment on sciatic nerve dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic rats; comparison with essential fatty acids. Diabetologia. 1995; 38:129-134.
74. Sagara M, Satoh J, Wada R, Yagihashi S, Takahashi K, Fukuzawa.M, Muto G, Muto Y, Toyota T. Inhibition of development of peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with N-acetylcysteine. Diabetologia. 1996; 39: 263-269.
75. Cameron NE, Cotter MA. Effects of evening primrose oil treatment on sciatic nerve blood flow and endoneurial oxygen tension in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Acta Diabetol 1994; 31:220-225.