Bitter Melon P. E.

Original Plant: The fruit of Momordica Charantia Linn.

Specification: 1%, 3%, 10% Charantin

Test Method: UV

Pharmacology Action: Bitter melon contains steroidal saponins known as charantin, insulin-like peptides and alkaloids, which gives it hypoglycemic ability. Charantin stimulates the release of insulin and blocks the formation of glucose in the bloodstream, which may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes particularly in non-insulin dependent diabetes. The hypoglycemic effect is attributed to two factors: (1)Charantin- a crystalline fraction obtained from an alcoholic extract of the fruit. Charantin administered at a 50mg/kg dose reduced hyperglycemia in rabbits by 42%. Charantin posesses pancreatic and extra-pancreatic action, and has a slight antispasmodic and anticholinergic effect. (2)P-isulin (or v-insulin, for vegetable insulin). This is a large polypeptide structurally and pharmacologically comparable to bovine insulin. The p-insulin is composed of two polypeptide chains bound together by disulphide bonds. Subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of p-insulin produced hypoglysemic effects in diabetic patients, the peak effect was observed after 4-8 hours as compared to 2 hours for bovine insulin.