Bitter Gourd
Momordica charantia
Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Polypeptide-p (p-insulin) is degraded by gastric proteases—limited oral bioavailability for the intact peptide (enteric coating helps). Vicine and charantin are better absorbed from juice than powder form.
| Botanical name | Momordica charantia |
|---|---|
| Family | Cucurbitaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Cucurbitales |
| Also known as | Bitter Gourd, BitterGourd |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2874581 · Wikidata Q428750 · NCBI Taxonomy 3673 |
This entry and karvellaka describe the same drug, Momordica charantia, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use; the other is treated as the primary record for citation.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Bitter_Gourd |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (powder), Capsule, Tablet, Kwath Ghana (concentrated extract), Tincture
Standard Dosage: 30-60ml fresh juice daily; 1-3g powder twice daily; 500mg standardized extract capsule twice daily; traditionally, fruit consumed as vegetable in diet
Bioavailability: Charantin shows moderate oral bioavailability (20-30%). Polypeptide-p (p-insulin) is degraded by gastric proteases—limited oral bioavailability for the intact peptide (enteric coating helps). Vicine and charantin are better absorbed from juice than powder form. Momordicin has good lipophilicity. Cucurbitane triterpenoids show 25-35% oral bioavailability. Note: fresh juice is considered most bioactive in both Ayurvedic and modern perspectives.
Optimal Timing: Early morning on empty stomach for maximum antidiabetic effect; 30 minutes before meals; fresh juice preferred over dried forms
Standardized Extract: Fruit extract standardized to charantin NLT 2%; total saponins NLT 10%; momordicin NLT 0.5%. Lyophilized juice powder at 5:1 concentration.
Shelf Life: 2 days (fresh juice, refrigerated); 2 years (powder/capsule); 3 years (tablet)
Storage: Fresh juice under refrigeration (2-8°C) in glass containers. Powder in airtight containers with desiccant and nitrogen flushing. Protect from moisture and heat.
Marker Compounds: Charantin, Momordicin, Vicine, Polypeptide-p, Cucurbitacin B, Momordicoside A-F, Goyaglycoside a-d, Beta-sitosterol
Extraction Methods
- Fresh fruit juice extraction
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (70:30) for charantin enrichment
- Aqueous extraction for polypeptide-p
- Ethanol extraction for cucurbitane glycosides
- Lyophilization of fresh juice for stable powder
- Supercritical CO2 for lipophilic triterpenoids
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2021. Clinical trials with plants in diabetes mellitus therapy: a systematic reviewExpert review of clinical pharmacology. PMID 33884948 · doi:10.1080/17512433.2021.1917380
Randomised controlled trials2
- 2020. Hypoglycemic efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitusComplementary therapies in medicine. PMID 32951763 · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102524
- 2003. Effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn) on level and function of natural killer cells in cervical cancer patients with radiotherapyJournal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet. PMID 12678140
Other clinical studies and reviews9
- 2024. Momordica charantia Bioactive Components: Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Benefits Through Gut Health ModulationJournal of medicinal food. PMID 38770678 · doi:10.1089/jmf.2024.k.0037
- 2024. Therapeutic Potential of Momordicine I from Momordica charantia: Cardiovascular Benefits and MechanismsInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 39408847 · doi:10.3390/ijms251910518
- 2023. The Management of Diabetes Mellitus Using Medicinal Plants and VitaminsInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 37240430 · doi:10.3390/ijms24109085
- 2023. The Role of Bitter Melon in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Prevention and TherapyInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 37240264 · doi:10.3390/ijms24108918
- 2022. Bioactives of Momordica charantia as Potential Anti-Diabetic/Hypoglycemic AgentsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35408574 · doi:10.3390/molecules27072175
- 2019. The Role of Momordica charantia in Resisting ObesityInternational journal of environmental research and public health. PMID 31487939 · doi:10.3390/ijerph16183251
- 2019. Emerging Antitumor Activities of the Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)Current protein & peptide science. PMID 29932035 · doi:10.2174/1389203719666180622095800
- 2017. Recent Advances in Momordica charantia: Functional Components and Biological ActivitiesInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 29182587 · doi:10.3390/ijms18122555
- 2016. Promise of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) bioactives in cancer prevention and therapySeminars in cancer biology. PMID 27452666 · doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2016.07.002
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