Scientific Name: Momordica charantia.Lin.
Common Name: Ampalaya, Balsampear, Bitter Melon, Bitter Gourd, Karela
The Philippine Momordica charantia or popularly known Ampalaya takes center stage in nutrition. In the Philippines, Ampalaya is one ingredient to the local delicacy the pinakbet. Ampalaya is included in the list of Sampung Halamang Gamot (10 Medicinal Plants) published by the Philippine Senate Committee in Health and Demography sponsored by Sen. Juan Flavier, a Doctor of Medicine and former Secretary of the Department of Health of the Philippines. Ampalaya is strongly recommended and advocated for people suffering from Diabetes Mellitus.
Throughout the world, Ampalaya is being studied for its health benefits as nutritional and food supplement. In the Physicians Guide to Philippine Nutraceuticals, Ampalaya has been found to contain numerous Phytonutrients like Charantin, Momordicin, polypeptide-p, Vitamins and Minerals that may act as Antioxidants. In the Philippine Food Composition Table of 1997 by the FNRI (Food and Nutrition Research Institute) it was further confirmed that uncooked Ampalaya Leaves and Fruits contain higher vitamins and minerals content compared to cooked edible parts of Ampalaya.
In the Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine, a study was reported and published about the efficacy of Ampalaya among type II Diabetes. It has concluded that Momordica charantia is a dietary adjunct to the treatment of type II diabetes.
In other parts of the world, voluminous independent studies have surfaced citing the
role of Ampalaya in preventing glucose intolerance. In a review of herbal remedies for Diabetes Melittus, Ampalaya has been cited to help lower glucose intolerance and control hyperglycemia. Another study done in India, demonstrated the synergistic effect of achieving glucose lowering effects of Ampalaya together with metformin and glibenclamide.
Other Studies conducted in Japan showed the protective and triglyceride lowering effect of Ampalaya. Other studies of Ampalaya has cited the beneficial effects in its role in the diet.
The Philippine Food Composition Tables. Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Department of Science and Technology. 2002; P.29, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
Gabay sa Sampung Halamang Gamot. Senate Committee on Health and Demography. Republic of the Philippines. 1993, p 20, Philippines
Rosales,R M.D.and Fernando,R M.D. An Inquiry to the Hypoglycemic Action of Momordica charantia among type II Diabetic Patients. Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine.2001, July-August Vol.39 no.4 pp. 213-216. Manila, Philippines
Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2003 Feb 15;60(4):356-9. Cambridge, MA 02138-5204, USA
Senanayake GV, Maruyama M, Shibuya K, 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.
Tongia A, Tongia SK, Dave M. Phytochemical determination and extraction of Momordica charantia fruit and its hypoglycemic potentiation of oral hypoglycemic drugs in diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).Indian Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology. 2004 Apr;48(2):241-4 India
Guerero,AM: Philippine Medicinal Plants Found Effective. Fil Fam Phy 20(1):39, Jan-Mar 1982.
Raymundo, M. An Investigative and Comparative Study on the Hypoglycemic Effect of Momordica charantia and Aloe Vera. Phil J Int Med 35:103. May-June 1997
Baldwa, VS, Bhandau,CM, Phangaria, A: Clinical Trial in Rats with Diabetes of an Insulin-like Compound obtained from a plant source.Upsala Journal of Medicine,82:39,1977.
Sheng Q, Yao H, Xu H, Ling X, He T. Isolation of plant insulin from Momordica charantia seeds by gel filtration and RP-HPLC. School of Food Science and Technology, Southern Yangtze University, Wuxi . Zhong Yao Cai. 2004 Jun;27(6):414-6.
Cummings E, Hundal HS, Wackerhage H, Hope M, Belle M, Adeghate E, Singh J.
Momordica charantia fruit juice stimulates glucose and amino acid uptakes in L6 myotubes.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England, UK.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 Jun;261(1-2):99-104