Bitter Gourd Extract

Bitter Gourd Extract contains steroidal saponins such as balsam pear, insulin-like peptides and alkaloids that confer their hypoglycemic activity.  Momordicin stimulates the release of insulin and inhibits the formation of glucose in the bloodstream, which may play a great role in the treatment of diabetes, especially non-insulin-dependent diabetes.  Two substances are credited with lowering blood sugar

(1)   Momordicin-a crystalline substance obtained from the ethanol extract of Momordica fruit.  At the control dose of 50mg/kg, momordicin reduced blood glucose by 42% in all rabbits.  Momordicin exhibits pancreatic and extrapancreatic effects and has mild antispasticity and anticholine effects.

(2)   P-insulin (or V-insulin, because it’s plant insulin).  Its structure is macromolecular polypeptide configuration, but pharmacologically similar to bovine insulin.  P-insulin consists of two polypeptide chains linked by disulfide bonds.  Hypoglycemic effects of subcutaneous and muscle administration of P-insulin in diabetic patients.

The Bitter Gourd Extract has been shown to be effective in psoriasis, susceptibility to cancer, pain from neuropathic complications,and may delay the onset of catar acts or retinopathy and suppress HIV by destroying viral DNA. Its anticancer properties are due in part to its immune-enhancing effects. The results showed that Bitter Gourd Extract inhibited lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage and lymphocyte activity.