Bitter Melon | Mormordica charantia | Organic
$12.00 – $25.00
Bitter Melon is a gourd, native to the Africa and Asian continents.
Most studies on Bitter Melon have involved mice models and stem cell lines and this has shown Bitter Melon to be a chemotherapeutic agent. Human clinical trials have not been performed. The crude extract and isolated compounds have displayed significant potential as cancer preventive and therapeutic agents to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, survival and metastasis against several cancers without any significant toxicity in normal cells. The anticancer effects are associated with Reactive Oxygen Species generation, activation of detoxification enzymes, inhibition of cancer stem cell populations and their self-renewal, inhibition of cell cycle, cell signaling, invasion, metastasis, hypoxia, angiogenesis, glucose and lipid metabolism, induction of apoptosis and autophagy and modulation in the immune system. (1) How exciting for an easily grown and sourced herbal medicine!
Its other main usage as is an antiobesic herbal medicine. Data has showed that the 50% Ethanolic Extract of M. charantia is potent inhibitor of lipogenesis and stimulator of lipolysis – the breaking down of fat cells. This can be used alongside a healthy diet for a successful weight loss programme.
Bitter Melon may work via several different mechanisms. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) belongs to nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARγ is overexpressed in adipocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, cardiomyocytes, and endothelial cells. PPAR-γ has been known to play an important role in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and various other metabolic pathways, such as sugar and fat metabolism. In a study by Shih et al., the effects of M. charantia on skeletal muscle they found that M. charantia extract could increase the expression of PPARγ in adipose tissue. (2)
Furthermore Bitter Melon has antidiabetic action. Bitter Melon constituents function by promoting the biogenesis and translocation of GLUT4 and suppressing insulin resistance. (3)
No wonder we get excited about herbal medicine’s growing evidence base when we find studies being performed like this!
- Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia), a Nutraceutical Approach for Cancer Prevention and Therapy. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Aug; 12(8): 2064. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7464160/
- The Role of Momordica charantia in Resisting Obesity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Sep; 16(18): 3251. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6765959/
- The Effect of Momordica charantia in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: A Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021; 2021: 3796265. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7826218/
Additional information
| Ingredients | Dried Bitter Melon fruit organic |
|---|---|
| Actions | Antidiabetic, Hypoglycemic, Antilipidemic, Anthelmintic, Chemotherapeutic, Emmenagogue |
| Constituents | Cucurbitane-Type Triterpenoids – Charantin, momordicine I, II and III, karavilagenin A, B, C, D and E, kuguacins A–S, 23-dimethoxy-cucurbita-5, 24-dien-19-al, 19-epoxycucurbita-6, (23E)-3β-hydroxy-,7β, 25-dimethoxycucurbita-5, 23-diene-19-ol, 19-epoxy-19, 25-dimethoxycucurbita-6, 23-diene-3β-ol, (19R, 23E)-5β, 19-epoxy-19-methoxy cucurbita-6, 23-diene-3β, 25-diol, 25-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy cucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene, 3β-hydroxy-7β, 25-dimethoxy cucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene, 3β, 7β, 25-trihydroxy cucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene-19-al, 5β, 19-epoxycucurbita-6, 23(E)-diene-3β, 19, 25-triol, 5β, 19-epoxy-19-methoxycucurbita-6,23(E)-diene-3β, 25-diol; 3β, 25-dihydroxy-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6, 23(E)-diene; 19(R)-methoxy-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6, 23-diene-3β, 25-diol, 5β, 19-epoxycucurbita-6, 23(E)-diene-3β, 25-diol; 3β, 7β-dihydroxy-25-methoxy cucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene-19-al; 23(E)-25-methoxy cucurbita-23-ene-3β, 7β-diol, 23(E)-cucurbita-5, 23, 25-triene-3β, 7β-diol, 23(E)-25-dihydroxy cucurbita-5, 23-diene-3, 7-dione, 23(E)-cucurbita-5, 23, 25-triene-3, 7-dione, 23(E)-5β, 19-epoxycucurbita-6, 23-diene-3β, 25-diol, 23(E)-5β, 19-epoxy-25-methoxy cucurbita-6, 23-diene-3β-ol; cucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene-3β, 7β, 25-triol, 3β-acetoxy-7β-methoxy cucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene-25-ol, cucurbita-5(10), 6, 23(E)-triene-3β, 25-diol, cucurbita-5, 24-diene-3, 7, 23-trione; (19R, 23E)-5β, 19-epoxy-19-methoxy cucurbita-6, 23,25-triene-3β-ol, (23E)-3β-hydroxy-7β-methoxycucurbita-5, 23, 25-triene-19-ol, Cucurbitane-Type Triterpene Glycosides – momordicosides (A–E, F1, F2, G, I, K, L, M, N, O, Q, R, S and T), charantosides I–VIII, karaviloside (I–XI), goyaglycoside- (a–h), kuguaglycoside, 3-O-β-D-allopyranosyl, 7β, 25-dihydroxycucurbita-5, 23(E)-diene-19-al; 3-O-β-D-allopyranosyl, 7β, 25-dihydroxy cucurbita-5(6), 23(E)-diene-19-al, 3-O-β-D-allopyranosyl, 25-methoxy cucurbita-5(6), 23(E)-diene-19-ol, 24(R)-stigmastan-3β, 5α, 6β-triol-25-ene 3-O-β-glucopyranoside, Phenolic Acids – galic acid, tannic acid, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric, gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, Proteins – momordica antiviral protein 30kD (MAP30), α- and β-momocharin, 14-kDa Ribonucleases (RNase MC2) and marmorin |
| Contraindications | Diabetics taking hypoglycemic medications must talk to their health professional before using. Strict monitoring of blood glucose must be undertaken. Do not use Bitter Melon while pregnant. Males and females trying to conceive should not use Bitter Melon continuously. Not to be used by children. This herb has GRAS rating {Generally Recognised as Safe}. Herbs should generally be avoided when pregnant or trying to conceive. Please consult with a qualified practitioner before self-prescribing. |
| Instructions | Steep 1 teaspoon of herb for 5-10 minutes. Reuse leaves and drink 1-3 times daily. |
| Size | 30 grams, 50 grams, 100 grams |
| Country of origin | Bitter Melon is native to Asia, Africa and Latin America. This tea is organically grown and harvested in India. |
