Investigating the anti-diabetic properties of Momordica charantia

In this study, researchers from Congo-Brazzaville and France investigated the antidiabetic properties of the ethanol extract of Momordica charantia, also known as bitter melon. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research.

• The aerial parts of M. charantia are often used in traditional Congolese medicine because of their therapeutic properties.
• To evaluate the plant’s antidiabetic properties, the researchers harvested local M. charantia and prepared extracts from its leafy stem.
• They then used gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to analyze the phytochemical composition of the extracts.
• For their in vivo study, the researchers treated rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes with the ethanolic extract of M. charantia.
• Phytochemical analysis led to the identification of an antidiabetic molecule known as charantine in M. charantia.
• In vivo, the extract significantly reduced glycemia by 51.62 percent three hours after the treatment.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that M. charantia is a potent natural medicine for diabetes, thanks to the presence of charantine and its ability to lower blood glucose levels.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Snelle MB, Celestine NL, Raoul A, Arnold MEN, Longin JCBM, Myriam B, Jean MO. EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L. AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHARANTINE BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED WITH MASS SPECTROMETRY. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 25 July 2019;13(14):321–328. DOI: 10.5897/jmpr2019.6750