Momordica Charantia Research Articles

Fetal safety of medicinal herbs and food ingredients during pregnancy: Recommendations from traditional Korean medicine based on expert opinions

Objectives: This study aimed to establish and provide reliable information for general public, based on expert consensus, on the risks of misuse of medicinal herbs for food and pure food ingredients for the fetus during pregnancy.Methods: A panelist of seven traditional Korean medicine (TKM) gynecologists responded to a questionnaire summarizing the fetal safety literature for twenty-five medicinal herbs for food and pure food ingredients derived from medicated diet (藥膳, Yaksun) recipes during three online Delphi rounds anonymously.Results: Ginkgonis Semen (Ginkgo nut), Illici Veri Fructus (Star anise), lavender, bitter gourd, and parsley were agreed at the level 1 of “Do not consume”. These five ingredients were recognized as having significant risks both in the literature evidence and in expert opinion. Rosemary, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Discoreae Rhizoma, lemongrass, Schisandrae Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus, Mori Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Astragali Radix were agreed at the level 2 of “consultation with TKM practitioner is required”.Conclusion: Based on the consensus of a seven-member expert panel of TKM gynecologists, consumption of Ginkgonis Semen (Ginkgo nut), Illici Veri Fructus (Star anise), lavender, bitter gourd, and parsley should be avoided by pregnant women. For Rosemary, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Discoreae Rhizoma, lemongrass, Schisandrae Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus, Mori Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Astragali Radix, the level 2 advisory may be recommended to use with caution and to consult a TKM practitioner for advice on consumption, dose, and duration.

Effect of Seed Priming Treatments on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

By reducing seed dormancy, seed priming is an effective way to increase bitter gourd seed germination and vigor. To ascertain the impact of seed priming treatment on the physiological quality of bitter gourd seeds, an experiment was carried out in the spring. In a single factorial randomized full block design with three replications, seeds were sowed on 28 celled seed treys for this experiment in an open field setting. Water, cow milk, cow urine, NANO urea, nutrition solution, NaCl solution, and untreated seed were all used as priming agents. Bitter gourd seeds of the Durga variety were sowed, and soil, vermicompost, and sand were used as the growing media in a 2:1:1 ratio. The experiment examined various metrics, including germination rate, germination index, seedling vigor index, root and leaf length, plant height, number of leaves and roots, root-to-shoot ratio, and fresh weight. The treatments including germination % were all found to be positively influenced by the priming. In hydro-priming, the highest germination rate (81.96%) was noted. On hydro-priming, the highest number of roots (11), was recorded. Maximum shoot diameter (0.34 cm) and fresh weight (2.41 g) were recorded under controlled treatment and hydro priming, respectively. The study comes to the conclusion that Durga hydro priming followed by halo priming in seed trays was shown to be effective for seed germination and seedling growth. As a result, Nepali farmers can prime bitter gourd seeds using tap water and a NaCl solution.

Association between nutrient intake from vegetables and BMI category of in-school adolescents in urban and rural areas in Davao City, Philippines.

Consumption of vegetables may contribute to alleviating the double burden of malnutrition, which is widespread among adolescents. However, the link between specific nutrient intakes from vegetables and the body mass index (BMI) of in-school adolescents is not widely studied. This study determined the association between the nutrient intakes from the vegetables consumed and the BMI category of in-school adolescents in urban and rural areas in Davao City, Philippines. Self-reported vegetable consumption was collected from the respondents, and the corresponding nutrient intakes were calculated using the USDA food composition tables. The BMI of the participating adolescents was also measured. The results show that being underweight or overweight is generally associated with lower macronutrient and micronutrient intakes from the vegetables consumed, namely, bell pepper, bitter gourd, cabbage, carrot, chayote, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, Malabar spinach, moringa, mung bean, okra, potato, sponge gourd, squash, string beans, sweet potato, sweet potato tops, taro, tomato, water spinach (P<0.05). The nutrient intakes from vegetables consumed by adolescents from urban households were generally higher. The findings highlight the contribution of vegetables to the nutrient intakes in the adolescent population. This study reinforces the need for targeted dietary guidelines and further promotion of vegetables, especially indigenous ones, to improve the nutritional status of adolescents in the Philippines.

Theoretical exploration of Momordica charantia L. for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver sinusoidal endothelial cell dysfunction

Theoretical exploration of Momordica charantia L. for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver sinusoidal endothelial cell dysfunction

Optimizing Agroforestry Plantation in Los Baños, Laguna

Agroforestry has been a necessary practice as a land management system to aid the growing pressure on the forestry land. To support the local farmers in the Learning Laboratory for Agroforestry in Los Baños, Laguna who practice this system, a linear programming model was constructed to maximize the profit while considering the land, labor hours, rotation age constraints, and the combination of crops. The crops used in this study were grouped into nitrogen and non-nitrogen fixers, and combinations of alternation of these crops were formulated while taking rotation ages into account. The maximum profit was calculated using the Linear Programming Solver or LiPS. The model allocated the total land area to the combination of cucumber, string beans, and tomato, as it was the most profitable. Results indicate that the second-best option was the combination of bitter gourd and string beans, as it had the second- smallest reduced cost. Also, the maximum profit increased by PHP 264.43 per square meter increase in the land area available. Hence, it is suggested that the local farmers must expand their land areas or increase the selling prices to obtain higher profits.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Bitter Melon in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

The Effectiveness and Safety of Bitter Melon in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Momordica charantia as a Prospective Raw Material for Health and Craft Products

Topicality of this study is determined by the prospect of expanding the assortment of health and craft products due to the use of fruits and leaves of a plant with high biological activity, namely, Momordica charantia. The aim of the article is to evaluate the prospects of using fruits and leaves of different Momordica charantia varieties in the production of health and craft materials. Research methods of studying the main quality indicators of raw materials and finished grout were standard, such as organoleptic, physicochemical and chromatographic ones. Results. The set organoleptic analysis of Momordica charantia fruits showed a strong bitter taste of all the species of this plant. This leads to a limited range of this fruit use, especially in food products with a bitter taste, such as dark chocolate, coffee, etc. All the studied varieties, large fruited ones, despite their rather big mass, have a high content of ascorbic acid, saponins and phenols. The active grout acidity of different varieties of momordica is in the range of 6.3–7.2, and the redox potential is 55–74 mW. Conclusions. The conducted research indicates that due to the presence of a high content of biologically active substances (ascorbic acid, phenols, saponins and mineral compounds), momordica is a promising raw material for the creation of health and preventive health products. The study of the large-fruited species of Momordica charantia showed the presence of the same components as in traditional momordica varieties. Thereby, it becomes possible to fully use them in culinary and food products.

Anti-Hyperglycemic Effect of Combination Etanolic Extract of Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) and Bitter Melon Fruit (Momordica charantia L) on Alloxan-Induced Wistar White Rats

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia caused by a decrease in insulin secretion. Sambiloto leaves (Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. Ex Ness) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia L) are types of plants that are used as regulators of blood sugar levels. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness and effective comparative doses in the combination of sambiloto leaf extract (Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. Ex Ness) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia L) on alloxan-induced Wistar white rats. This study is experimental research with a pre and post-control group design, using a sample of 24 subjects. The data analysis in this study employed normality and homogeneity tests, obtaining a significance result of p&gt;0.05. The development of the ANOVA test revealed a significant value of p

Pelatihan Pembuatan Keripik Pare Dalam Meningkatkan Nilai Tambah Ekonomi Buah Pare Pada Ibu-Ibu KWT di Desa Bendewuta Kecamatan Wonggeduku

The aim of holding this PKM activity is to diversify bitter melon fruit into chips for the women of KWT Medulu, Bendewuta Village, Wongeduku District. The selected participants were 10 people who had bitter melon gardens in their yard. The activity stages were lecture and practice. PKM activities were carried out well, participants were very enthusiastic in taking part in PKM activities. Monitoring results showed that the amount of increase in participants' knowledge and skills increased from 100%, from 10 participants who answered that they did not know before the training activity in making bitter melon chips, it increased to 100% or 10 participants answered that they knew and were able after the training. This shows that training activities can be said to be successful because there is an increase in the knowledge and skills of the training participants.

Inovasi dan Transformasi Digitalisasi Menjadi Kunci Keberhasilan Bisnis di Era Digital

The aim of holding this PKM activity is to diversify bitter melon fruit into chips for the women of KWT Medulu, Bendewuta Village, Wongeduku District. The selected participants were 10 people who had bitter melon gardens in their yard. The activity stages were lecture and practice. PKM activities were carried out well, participants were very enthusiastic in taking part in PKM activities. Monitoring results showed that the amount of increase in participants' knowledge and skills increased from 100%, from 10 participants who answered that they did not know before the training activity in making bitter melon chips, it increased to 100% or 10 participants answered that they knew and were able after the training. This shows that training activities can be said to be successful because there is an increase in the knowledge and skills of the training participants.

Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Momordica charantia Linn

Phenolic compounds are bioactive constituents found in both honey and Momordica charantia, contributing to their potential health benefits. Honey, a natural sweetener, contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, and other minor phenolic contents, which contribute to its antioxidant activity and potential therapeutic properties. In this study, the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique was utilized to determine the phenolic content of Momordica charantia Linn and honey. The analysis of Momordica charantia Linn demonstrated that it showed the highest level of p-hydroxy benzoic acid, whereas the lowest quantity of p-coumaric acid was detected. Rutin was identified as the primary constituent in the composition of honey, whereas o-coumaric acid was detected in the lowest concentration. In conclusion, it can be concluded that Momordica charantia Linn and honey possess a significant abundance of phenolic compounds.

The Effect of Antimicrobial Extract on The Characteristics of Tomatoes Coated by Edible Coating based on Tapioca Flour

The edible coating is a food coating material inhibitor of transpiration and respiration. Layer is not fully effective in preventing food spoilage. The spoilage process can occur more quickly if fruit with high moisture content has infected. The research aimed to determine optimum concentration of antimicrobial extract in maintaining shelf life and shrinkage of tomatoes, dominant bacteria in fruit spoilage, between Escherichia coli or staphylococcus. Figure out antimicrobial extracts that are effective in preventing microbial growth. Research begins with the extraction process, testing the active compounds in the extract, combining edible coatings and white turmeric and bitter melon extract with concentrations of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 100 respectively), tomato fruit coating. The tests included shelf life, weight loss, best antimicrobial extract, and inhibition diameter. The results more concentration of the extract made the shelf life longer to 14 days and reduced shrinkage by 3.53%. Secondary metabolite compounds in the form of saponins, steroids, and triterpenoids. The minimum concentration of 30% bitter melon and white turmeric extract to prevent bacterial activity and the diameter of the inhibition zone in the range of 10-12 mm showed the extract had the moderate ability. The more dominant bacteria in tomato fruit rot is Staphylococcus aureus.

Medicinal plants used for management of diabetes and hypertension in Ghana

Diabetes and hypertension have been declared as a global health menace of the 21st Century. Thus, the search for potential therapeutic agents from medicinal plants for the management of diabetes and hypertension is important. This study was undertaken to investigate medicinal plants being used in the management of diabetes and hypertension by herbalists in Ghana. Data were obtained from 36 herbalists through questionnaire interviews and conversations. Botanical specimens were collected, processed and identified following standard ethnobotanical methods. Data were analyzed using Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). A total of 39 species of plants belonging to 31 families were reported being used for management of diabetes and hypertension. Eighteen of these plants are used for the treatment of hypertension, 12 species for diabetes, and 9 species for management of both diseases. Informant consensus factor was highest for plants used to treat both diseases (IFC = 0.82) followed by hypertension (ICF = 0.31) and then diabetes (IFC = 0.24). FL values were high for Carica papaya L. Moringa oleifera Lam. and Khaya senegalensis A. Juss. for the management of both diabetes and hypertension. Of the 14 species used for hypertension, Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. ex. Thonn.) recorded the highest FL value whiles Momordica charantia L. recorded the highest FL value for antidiabetic plants. Baphia nitida G. Lodd, Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. and Tapinanthus banguwensis (Engl. & k. Krause) Dancing are being mentioned for the first time in the management of hypertension. Herbal medicines for treatments of both diabetes and hypertension were usually prepared from multiple plant prescriptions by boiling the plant parts, and the decoctions drunk for treatments. The results show that there is substantial preclinical evidence to support the usefulness of some of these herbs as an important choice for patients with diabetes and hypertension. However, clinical studies are important to confirm the efficacy and safety of the herbal medicines prescribed by herbalists.

PENGARUH KOMPOS KULIT DURIAN DAN NPK ORGANIK TERHADAP PRODUKSI TANAMAN PARE (Momordica charantia L.)

The Effect of Compost Durian Peel and Organic NPK on the Production of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L)”. The purpose of this study was to determine the interaction effect as well as the main effect of durian rind compost and organic NPK on bitter melon production. The research was carried out on the agricultural land of the Food Crops Seed Center, Kuantan Singingi Regency, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM 2, Pulau Godang Village, Kuantan Tengah District, Kuantan Singingi Regency. The study was conducted for 4 months, from December to March 2023. This study used a factorial Completely Randomized Design consisting of 2 factors, namely the first factor of durian peel compost (K) consisting of 4 treatment levels, namely 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg per plot. The second factor was the dose of Organic NPK (N) which consisted of 4 treatment levels, namely 0, 5, 10 and 15 gram plants. Parameters observed were flowering age, harvesting age, number of fruit per plant, fruit weight per plant, fruit weight per fruit, largest fruit diameter, longest fruit length and number of remaining fruit. Observational data were analyzed statistically and continued with the BNJ test at the 5% level. The results showed that the interaction of durian rind compost and Organic NPK significantly affected the parameters of flowering age, harvesting age, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, fruit weight per fruit and longest fruit length. The best treatment was a dose of 3 kg of durian peel compost per plot and 15 grams of organic NPK per plant. The main effect of real durian peel compost on all observation parameters. The best treatment is durian peel compost at a dose of 3 kg per plot. The main effect of real organic NPK on all observation parameters. The best treatment is Organic NPK with a dose of 15 grams per plant.

Identification and Analysis of Reference and Tissue-Specific Genes in Bitter Gourd Based on Transcriptome Data

Accurate and standardized quantification of reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) results relies on the use of a dependable reference gene. The precise control of transgene expression in terms of both spatial and temporal aspects necessitates the utilization of tissue-specific gene promoters. However, the identification of stable reference genes across various tissues, particularly in fruits at different ripening stages, as well as tissue-specific genes in bitter gourds, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employed RNA-Seq-based transcriptome datasets obtained from nine tissues to comprehensively screen for new reference genes (NRGs) and tissue-specific genes. Through the utilization of five algorithms in conjunction with qRT-PCR analysis, we successfully identified two highly stable reference genes, namely HMG1/2 and PHOS32, from a pool of 11 NRGs and five traditional reference genes (TRGs). To validate their reliability, we performed expression pattern analysis of two genes associated with fruit ripening (McACO1 and McACO2) using HMG1/2 and PHOS32, as well as an unstable reference gene, HSCP2. Furthermore, we conducted qRT-PCR validation of 12 tissue-specific genes using HMG1/2 as the reference gene. This study not only contributes to the precise normalization of target genes in bitter gourd but also provides a solid foundation for regulating transgenes through the utilization of suitable tissue-specific promoters.

The effect of H&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;BO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; and 2,4-D on &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; Callus and Somatic Embryo Formation of Bitter Melon (&lt;i&gt;Momordica charantia&lt;/i&gt; L.)

The effect of H&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;BO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; and 2,4-D on &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; Callus and Somatic Embryo Formation of Bitter Melon (&lt;i&gt;Momordica charantia&lt;/i&gt; L.)

A 1-bp deletion in the MC04g1399 is highly associated with failure to produce fruit wart in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Fruit wart is an important appearance trait influencing consumer preferences of bitter gourd. The molecular genetic mechanisms underlying fruit wart formation in bitter gourd are largely unknown. In this study, genetic analysis based on four generations showed that fruit wart formation in bitter gourd was controlled by a single dominant locus named as Fwa. The Fwa locus was initially mapped into a 4.82 Mb region on pseudochromosome 4 by BSA-seq analysis and subsequently narrowed down to a 286.30 kb region by linkage analysis. A large F2 population consisting of 2 360 individuals was used to screen recombinants, and the Fwa locus was finally fine mapped into a 22.70 kb region harboring four protein-coding genes through recombination analysis. MC04g1399, encoding an epidermal patterning factor 2-like protein, was proposed as the best candidate gene for Fwa via sequence variation and expression analysis. In addition, a 1-bp insertion and deletion (InDel) variation within MC04g1399 was converted to a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker that could precisely distinguish between the warty and non-warty types with an accuracy rate of 100 % among a wide panel of 126 bitter gourd germplasm resources. Our results not only provide a scientific basis for deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit wart formation but also provide a powerful tool for efficient genetic improvement of fruit wart via marker-assisted selection.

Nutritional compilation of commonly consumed organic and conventional fruits and vegetables from India

In recent years, the interest for organic foods has been increased drastically due to their production without any synthetic chemicals. More emphasis for organic foods was focused towards the analysis of chemicals used during the cultivation which are known to have toxic effects. Very limited literature is available for the comparison of nutritional components in organic (OR) and conventional (CO) foods of Indian origin. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the nutritional components in the commonly cultivated organic and conventional fruits and vegetables of India. The different foods analyzed in the study were Moringa leaf, green amaranthus leaf, tomato, bitter gourd, sweet potato, carrot, sweet orange and papaya. The results of the study revealed that the highest protein content was found in Moringa leaf (OR – 7.15 g/100 g, CO – 8.61 g/100 g) followed with green amaranthus leaves and sweet potato tuber. Similarly, dietary fiber was found with higher content in Moringa leaf (OR −8.09 g/100 g, CO – 9.01 g/100 g). Among the food groups analyzed for minerals, irrespective of the cultivation method, both organic and conventional green leafy vegetables (GLVs) were found to have higher contents of vitals minerals including Fe, Zn, Ca and Mn with the values ranging between 2.10 and 6.49, 0.54 – 0.92, and 1.22 – 1.32 mg/100 g, respectively. Vitamin B9 (μg/100 g) among the analyzed samples was found to be highest in green amaranthus (OR – 71.9, CO – 68.38), bitter gourd (OR – 65.38, CO – 62.27) and papaya (OR – 65.08, CO – 63.44). GLVs were recorded with high content of vitamin B5 (mg/100 g) in Moringa (OR – 0.53, CO – 0.45) and green amaranthus (OR – 0.47, CO – 0.42). Similarly, vitamin C (mg/100 g) was highest in GLVs which ranged between 109.82 and 120.11 and 83.23–88.75 mg/100 g for Moringa and green amaranthus samples, respectively. The carotenoids were found in all the analyzed samples with GLVs having the highest total carotenoids (19,590 – 41,856 μg/100 g) with OR samples having higher content in comparison to CO samples. It can be concluded from the study that, with few exceptional parameters there was no significant variation observed for the nutritional parameters between organic and conventional foods.

Discovery and Characterization of a Dual-Function Peptide Derived from Bitter Gourd Seed Protein Using Two Orthogonal Bioassay-Guided Fractionations Coupled with In Silico Analysis.

The hydrolysate of bitter gourd seed protein, digested by the combined gastrointestinal proteases (BGSP-GPs), exhibited the most potent inhibition on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) with an IC50 value of 48.1 ± 2.0 µg/mL. Using two independent bioassay-guided fractionations, fraction F5 from reversed-phase chromatography and fraction S1 from strong cation exchange chromatography exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory (ACEI) activity. Three identical peptides were simultaneously detected from both fractions and, based on the in silico appraisal, APLVSW (AW6) was predicted as a promising ACEI peptide. Their dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP4) inhibitory (DPP4I) activity was also explored. The IC50 values of AW6 against ACE and DPP4 were calculated to be 9.6 ± 0.3 and 145.4 ± 4.4 µM, respectively. The inhibitory kinetics and intermolecular interaction studies suggested that AW6 is an ACE competitive inhibitor and a DPP4 non-competitive inhibitor. The quantities of AW6 in BGSP-GP hydrolysate, fractions F5 and S1, were also analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Notably, AW6 could resist hydrolysis in the human gastrointestinal tract according to the result of the simulated gastrointestinal digestion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first discovery and characterization of a dual-function (ACEI and DPP4I activities) peptide derived from bitter gourd seed protein.

The Influence of Salt Stress on the Content of Vitamin C in the Leaves of some Varieties and Lines of Bitter Cucumber (Momordica charantia)

Bitter cucumber is a tropical and subtropical plant with a long history of medicinal use. Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects the morphology and physiology of plants leading to reduced growth, production yield or in some cases their death. Salt stress increases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in plants. They developed adaptation mechanisms by increasing the level of antioxidants, including vitamin C. The aim was to estimate the amount of vitamin C in the studied plants to determine the ability to adapt to salinity and improve nutritional properties. To carry out the experiment, two varieties and three experimental lines of bitter cucumber subjected to saline stress through treatments with saline solutions of different concentrations were used. The estimation of vitamin C content was carried out by UV-Vis spectrophotometry using the calibration curve method with standard L-ascorbic acid and KMnO4. After performing the analysis of variance on the varieties and lines of bitter cucumber, subjected to salt stress by applying the two treatments, it was found that the accumulation of vitamin C was insignificantly influenced by the factor a-the number of the treatment, but it was significantly influenced by the factor b-the concentration saline solution.