Bitter melon or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is a common vegetable in Asia and it is distinctive for its bitter taste. As an ingredient in folk medicine, research from different laboratories in recent years supports its potential medicinal applications with anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-HIV activities in both in vitro and animal studies. In this short review, we summarize herein the recent progress in the antitumor aspect of bitter melon with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms. Further mechanistic studies as well as clinical trials are necessary to further verify its medicinal applications.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203719666180622095800 | DOI Listing |
Histol Histopathol
December 2024
Department of Evaluation of Natural Resources, Environmental Studies and Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Egypt.
Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug that exhibits toxicity dependent on dosage and has adverse reproductive effects. (Bitter melon) is a natural vegetable plant; its active ingredients possess antioxidant, apoptotic, antiproliferative, hypoglycemic, and other therapeutic properties. This study evaluates the effect of the administration of bitter melon extract, cisplatin, and cisplatin/bitter melon cotreatment on liver and kidney functions, serum and testicular oxidative status, testis histology, and sperm parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFood Chem
January 2025
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Life Science and Resources, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Effects of puffing and extraction method on physical and biological efficacy of bitter melon was investigated. Puffing increased the Maillard reaction products, extraction yield, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Antioxidant activity was the highest at 980 kPa, but there was no significant difference between two extraction methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh.
The objective of this study was the develop of fortified cookies enriched with oats flour and bitter gourd powder and monitoring the effects of these enrichments on the physicochemical, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and sensory attributes. This study was subjected to four treatments: control (0% oats flour and bitter gourd powder), T1 (10% oats flour), T2 (3% bitter gourd powder), and T3 (7% oats flour and 3% bitter gourd powder). Various physical properties of the cookies, including weight, thickness, diameter, spread ratio, baking loss, pH, and color values (L*, a*, and b*), were measured.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenes (Basel)
November 2024
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
Background: Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are key enzymes in the unsaturated fatty acid oxidation reaction pathway and play an important regulatory role in the synthesis of fruit aroma volatiles.
Methods: gene family members were identified in the whole genome database of bitter gourd and analyzed bioinformatically. An RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression differences in different tissues.
Cureus
December 2024
Department of Periodontology, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Dental Sciences, Chengalpet, IND.
Background Chronic periodontitis is primarily caused by various bacterial species present in the plaque biofilm, which trigger a host inflammatory response. This leads to the abnormal release of inflammatory mediators such as proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α), which are free radicals that cause alveolar bone resorption and tooth loss. (bitter gourd) is a widely used medicinal plant for the treatment of numerous diseases such as skin infections, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and carcinomas for several decades.
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