Latin Name: Momordica charantia
English Name: Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon
Sanskrit / Indian Names: Karela, Karavella, Kathilla |

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Bitter Melon, also known as Karela, Momordica Charantia or Bitter Gourd is a herb that helps regulate blood sugar levels and keeps body functions operating normally. It contains Gurmarin, a polypeptide considered to be similar to bovine insulin, which has been shown in experimental studies to achieve a positive sugar regulating effect by suppressing the neural response to sweet taste stimuli. Karela's principle constituents are lectins, charantin and momordicine. The fruits have long been used in India as a folk remedy for diabetes mellitus.
Rich in iron, bitter melon has twice the beta carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of bananas, and contains vitamins C and B 1 to 3, phosphorus and good dietary fiber. It is believed to be good for the liver and has been proven by western scientists to contain insulin, act as an anti-tumor agent, and inhibit HIV-1 infection
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At least three diverse groups of components in bitter melon been have indicated to have hipoglicémicas actions (sugar of the blood that lower) or others of the potential advantage in mellitus of the diabetes. These include a mixture of saponins steroidal known like charantin, insulin-like peptides, and the alkaloids. It continues being nonunderstandable that of these is most effective, or if work three together. The multiple controlled clinical studies have confirmed the advantage of the bitter melon for people with diabetes 2
Supplement Facts:
Serving size: 1 Vegi cap
Servings per container: 60
Each 250 mg capsule contains: Bitter Melon Extract 10:1
Dosage: 2 Capsules two times a day after meal or or as directed by your health practitioner.
The way it controls sugar is two-fold. First, Bitter Melon acts as a mediator between the body's cells and insulin already produced by the pancreas. Type II Diabetics and most people with high blood glucose levels still produce insulin, but in many cases their bodies have become resistant to it. Bitter Melon blocks the formation of glucose in the bloodstream and breaks down the barrier that prevents cells from using their own natural insulin.
Second, this anti-diabetic supplement has been shown to help increase production of beta cells by the pancreas, thereby improving the body's ability to produce and release insulin, while at the same time it may increase the number and activity of insulin receptors. Because it is believed that Bitter Melon can improve glucose tolerance and help the body process blood sugars it has become the most widely used traditional remedy for Diabetes. More importantly, this supplement is believed safe and effective in part because it is grown and produced naturally, with no artificial additives or preservatives.
We have thousands of surveys completed by customers who have put our Karela (Bitter Melon) capsules to the test, the majority of which praise the outstanding results of this product. Blood sugars before using Bitter Melon Capsules ranged anywhere from 120 to 300. After a trial period where consumers tried our supplement for two months, the average blood sugar dropped 30 to 50 points, with a significant number of people reporting a 60+ point drop, and some even reaching over a 100 point drop. What other dietary supplements cannot do for people who suffer from Diabetes, Karela (Bitter Melon) Supplements DOES. Over 97% of the people who try Morpheme Bitter Melon capsules purchase it again, and again, and again because this all - natural health product works.
DRUG INTERACTIONS - If taking with other anti-diabetic medications, please monitor your blood sugar levels closely as there is a risk of blood sugar levels dropping below normal.
Clinical Studies p-Insulin was tested in a controlled clinical trial. In juvenile diabetics, the peak hypoglycemic effect was observed after 1-8 hrs; in patients with maturity onset diabetes, maximum fall in blood sugar level was noted after 12 hrs. Karela or Bitter Melon has also been reported to show hypocholesteroemic activity. Recent researches by a team of British doctors have established that it contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin-like principle, designated as 'plant-insulin', which has been found highly beneficial in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, be included liberally in the diet of the diabetic
Antioxidant properties of Momordica Charantia (bitter gourd) seeds on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
Sathishsekar D, Subramanian S.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Chennai-25, India.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of seeds of two varieties, namely a country and hybrid variety of Momordica charantia (MCSEt1 and MCSEt2) respectively in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of both the seed extracts at a concentration of 150 mg/kg b.w for 30 days showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, hepatic and renal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides. The treatment also resulted in a significant increase in reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats. The results clearly suggest that seeds of Momordica charantia treated group may effectively normalize the impaired antioxidant status in streptozotocin induced-diabetes than the glibenclamide treated groups. The extract exerted rapid protective effects against lipid peroxidation by scavenging of free radicals there by reducing the risk of diabetic complications. The effect was more pronounced in MCSEt1 compared to MCSEt2.
Combined treatment of sodium orthovanadate and Momordica charantia fruit extract prevents alterations in lipid profile and lipogenic enzymes in alloxan diabetic rats.
Yadav UC, Moorthy K, Baquer NZ.
Hormone and Drug Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Momordica charantia Linn., commonly called bitter gourd, is a medicinal plant used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for treating various diseases including diabetes mellitus. Sodium orthovanadate (SOV) is also well-known insulin mimetic and an antidiabetic compound. Our laboratory has been using reduced doses of SOV along with administration of herbal extracts to alloxan diabetic rats and has established this combination as a good antihyperglycemic agent. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of treatment of Momordica fruit extract (MFE) and sodium orthovanadate, separately and in combination, on serum and tissue lipid profile and on the activities of lipogenic enzymes in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The results show that there was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in serum total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels after 21 days of alloxan diabetes. In the liver and kidney of diabetic rats the levels of total lipids and triglycerides also increased significantly (p < 0.01) while levels of total cholesterol decreased significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The lipogenic enzymes showed decreased activity in the diabetic liver, while in kidney they showed an increased activity. When compared with the controls these changes were significant. The treatment of alloxan diabetic rats with MFE and SOV prevented these alterations and maintained all parameters near control values. Most effective prevention was however observed in a combined treatment of Momordica with a reduced dose of SOV (0.2%). The results suggest that Momordica fruit extract and SOV exhibit hypolipidemic as well as hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats and their effect is pronounced when administered in combination.
The effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extracts on serum and liver lipid parameters in hamsters fed cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diets.
Senanayake GV, Maruyama M, Sakono M, Fukuda N, Morishita T, Yukizaki C, Kawano M, Ohta H.
Department of Biochemistry and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
The hypolipidemic effect of dietary methanol fraction (BMMF) extracted from bitter melon (Koimidori variety), at the levels of 0.5% and 1.0%, was examined in male golden Syrian hamsters fed diets supplemented with and without cholesterol. The feeding of BMMF at 0.5% and 1.0% levels in the diets for 4 wk tended to reduce food intake and growth, although there was no difference in food efficiency (weight gain/food intake). An effect of dietary BMMF on serum triglyceride was not seen in hamsters fed diets free of cholesterol, while hypertriglyceridemia induced by dietary cholesterol was significantly lowered in a dose-dependent manner in those fed diets containing the BMMF Serum total cholesterol concentration also tended to decrease in a dose-dependent manner following feeding of increasing amounts of BMMF in the presence and absence of cholesterol in the diet. The effects of dietary BMMF on liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were marginal, although dietary cholesterol caused a marked accumulation of these lipid molecules in the liver. These results suggest that the BMMF contains some components that could ameliorate lipid disorders such as hyperlipidemia.
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