Momordica charantia is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown for edible fruit, which is among the most bitter of all vegetables. English names for the plant and its fruit include bitter melon or bitter gourd (translated from Chinese: 苦瓜; pinyin: kǔguā). Being a relatively common food item, bitter melon was traditionally used for a dazzling array of conditions by people in tropical regions. Numerous infections, cancer, and diabetes are among the most common conditions it was purported to improve.

The Bitter Melon Extract used in dietary supplements is derived from the fruit of Momordica charantia L.

Benefits

• Anti-Diabetes (Hypoglycemia or Blood Glucose Lowering, adult-onset diabetesor type-II diabetes)

• Anti-HIV

• Psoriasis Treatment

• Anti-obesity

• Anti-malarial

• Anti-cancer

• Demulcent (Ache Relief)

• Aphrodisiac

Mechanism

Folk wisdom has it that bitter melon helps to prevent or counteract type-II diabetes. And it also is reported to help in the treatment psoriasis. It has also been thought that Bitter Melon may help in the treatment of HIV, but the evidence thus far is too weak to even consider. The ripe fruit of Bitter Melon has been suggested to exhibit some remarkable anti-cancer effects, but there is absolutely no evidence that it can treat cancer. However, preliminary studies do appear to confirm that Bitter Melon may improve blood sugar control in people with adult-onset diabetes(type-II diabetes).

A recent scientific study at JIPMER, India has proved that bitter melon increases insulin sensitivity. Also, in 2007, the Philippine Department of Health issued a circular stating that bitter melon, as a scientifically validated herbal medicinal plant, can lower elevated blood sugar levels. The study revealed that a 100 milligram per kilo dose per day is comparable to 2.5 milligrams of the anti-diabetes drug Glibenclamide taken twice per day. Bitter melon is sold in the Philippines as a food supplement and marketed under the trade name Charantia. Charantia capsules and tea are being exported to the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and parts of the Middle East.

There are a myriad of phytochemicals present in bitter melon and at least there are three different groups of constituents in bitter melon have been reported to have hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering and regulating effects) or other actions of potential benefit in diabetes mellitus. These include a mixture of steroidal saponins(glucosides) known as Charantins (including Charartin, Cerebroside, Goyasaponins, and momordicosides), insulin-like peptides(Lectin), and alkaloids(called Momordicine). It is still unclear which of these is most effective, or if all three work together. Two proteins, known as alpha- and beta-momorcharin inhibit the AIDS virus, but this research has only been demonstrated in test tubes and not in humans. A constituent in bitter melon, as yet unidentified, inhibits the enzyme guanylate cyclase, an act that may benefit people with psoriasis.

The mixture of steroidal saponins(glucosides) known as Charantins (including Charartin, Cerebroside, Goyasaponins, and momordicosides, four very promising bioactive compoundsthat Bitter Melon contains) activate a protein called AMPK, which is well known for regulating fuel metabolism and enabling glucose uptake, processes which are impaired in diabetics. "We can now understand at a molecular level why bitter melon works as a treatment for diabetes," said David James, director of the diabetes and obesity program at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney. "By isolating the compounds we believe to be therapeutic, we can investigate how they work together in our cells."

The lectin that has insulin-like bioactivity is due to its linking together 2 insulin receptors, and mimicking the action of animal insulin. This lectin lowers blood glucose concentrations by acting on peripheral tissues and, similar to insulin's effects in the brain, suppressing appetite. This lectin is likely a major contributor to the hypoglycemic effect that develops after eating bitter melon and why it may be a way of managing adult-onset diabetes. Lectin binding is non-protein specific, and this is likely why bitter melon has been credited with immunostimulatory activity - by linking receptors that modulate the immune system, thereby stimulating said receptors.

The alkaloids called Momordicine suppress neural response to sweet taste stimuli.

Safety

Bitter Melon Extract is safe, but various cautions are indicated. The seeds contain vicine and therefore can trigger symptoms of favism in susceptible individuals. In addition, the red arils of the seeds are reported to be toxic to children, and the fruit is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Dosage

• The typical dose is 300-900mg per day (usually in 2-3 doses throughout the day).
• Consult physicians for different condition specifics.

GNI’s Bitter Melon Extract Features and Benefits:

Bitter Melon Extract is one of GNI's most competitive products, with many advantages as list in the following, produced as our patent-pending process and know-how technology from bitter melon fruit.

How to get an effective Bitter Extract is not an easy thing. After a long time and hard scientific research by cooperation with some competent experts, we grasp the know-how technology. Processing by modern extraction and purification technique, we get a standard extract with the active compositions more than 100 times concentrated than the original materials. We standardize our extracts by the active ingredients of Bitter Melon, Total Saponins (commonly called Bitter Principle), especially by the most important one of them, Charantin. Our Total Saponins (Charantins) content may reach 10%, and Charantin 1%, which is actually a quite high level. Our technologies in both production and quality control have become ripe and stable. What's more, we are one of the few manufacturers who have achieved Charantin Standard Extracts and grasped its HPLC Test Methods.

The drugs based on our extract have an outstanding and long-lasting regulation effect on blood-glucose without any side effect. Clinical experiments indicated that patient who uses this product persistently for a long time could keep their blood-glucose level stable without any danger of hypoglycemia.

Our Bitter Melon P.E. has been accepted and highly appreciated by some important users in China, USA, and Japan.

• Produced with pure water only

• High purity: over 10% or 100:1

• NO solvent - residual free

• Pesticide-free

• Natural Brown-Yellow in appearance

• High solubility in water

• High anti-bacteria, and longer shelf life

Product Specifications:

1% Charantin (&. Or ) 10% Total Saponins HPLC,

10% Charantins UV,

400uIU Phyto-Isulin(Insulin-like) Active Test Mehtod,