Aqueous Extract of Momordica charantia, Reduces Hyperglycemia in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

The Momordica charantia (bitter melon) is a widely used plant in the traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). It has been shown that Momordica charantia (Mc) has hypoglycemic effects on animals and humans, however, we don´t know if this effect is present in a chronic time and if the plant extract (stem and leaves) participates in the antihyperglycemic effect.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the composition of Momordica charantia (Mc) and to study the hypoglycemic effect of Mc in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Study Design: Methods of characterization of Mc like HPLC, FITR and UV-VIS. In vivo antidiabetical assays in Wistar rats.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of general chemistry and department of pharmacy in the FCQ-BUAP, between January-August 2015.

Methodology: Collection of Mc was in Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz, Mexico and ethanolic extract was made for characterizations studies. 5 mg of ethanolic extract of Mc were analyzed with HPLC. Posteriorly, in FITR studies, The Mc extract was mixed with KBr and pressed and recorded with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. UV visible methods was recorded in a Varian Cary 100. For pharmacological studies, diabetic Wistar male rats were administered with aqueous extract of Mc during 30 days in different doses (10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg orally). Subsequently, glucose, insulin and glycated hemoglobin concentration were measured.

Results: The composition analysis showed that the Mc ethanolic extract has a great number of secondary metabolites which may be responsible of many plant properties. The dose-response study of Mc aqueous extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, showed that the hypoglycemic effect depends of the Mc dose (173.8 ± 11 mg/dL to 63.8 ± 2.8 mg/dL in rats administered with 160 mg/kg of Mc). Finally, we found that the Mc aqueous extract decreases the hyperglycemia (148.5 ± 5.7 mg/dLof alloxan group to 112.5 ± 5 mg/dL with Mc extract) and caused an increment in the insulin concentration (14.4 ± 0.05 mU/mL to 23.7 ± 1.2 mU/mL), 30 days after administration of Mc.

Conclusion: Mc aqueous extract, has antihyperglycemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. This study shows the importance of the knowledge about traditional medicine and different alternatives for diabetes treatment.