Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Sep;44(9):e13370.
doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13370. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Protein extracts from Momordica charantia var. charantia and M. charantia var. muricata show anti-lipidemic and antioxidant properties in experimental type 2 diabetic rats

Sundar Poovitha  1 , Madasamy Parani  1
Affiliations

Protein extracts from Momordica charantia var. charantia and M. charantia var. muricata show anti-lipidemic and antioxidant properties in experimental type 2 diabetic rats

Sundar Poovitha et al. J Food Biochem. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Plant-derived compounds are used to manage dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic condition. In this study, anti-lipidemic and antioxidant properties of the protein extracts from "Charantia" (PEC) and "Muricata" (PEM) varieties of Momordica charantia were analyzed by quantifying lipids, hepatic, renal, and oxidative stress markers, and histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues. Protein extracts were orally administered at 10 (PEC10, PEM10) or 20 mg/kg body weight (PEC20, PEM20). Levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides decreased but high-density lipoprotein increased significantly in treated rats as compared to untreated diabetic rats (p < .01), and attained normal physiological range in both doses. Levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione increased but thiobarbituric acid reactive substances decreased significantly in treated rats as compared to untreated diabetic rats (p < .01), and attained normal physiological range in PEM20 only. Histopathological examinations supported a protective role for the protein extracts against oxidative stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Momordica charantia, a well-known medicinal plant is traditionally used for treating diabetes in India as well as other countries. The whole plant was shown to have medicinal importance. Anti-diabetic potential of this plant was scientifically established largely using organic extracts and water extract mainly from the fruits of this plant. However, protein extracts from the seeds and fruit pulp of this plant were also proven to have anti-diabetic activity. The present study illustrates the anti-lipidemic and antioxidant effect of protein extracts from the fruit pulp of two varieties of M. charantia (Charantia and Muricata) in Streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats. This study provides experimental evidence in support of its use in the management of type 2 diabetes-related complications.

Keywords: Charantia; Muricata; anti-lipidemic; antioxidant; protein extract; stress markers.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Bailey, C. J., & Day, C. (1989). Traditional plant medicines as treatments for diabetes. Diabetes Care, 12, 553-564. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.12.8.553
    1. Beauchamp, C. O., & Fridovich, I. (1971). Superoxide dismutase: Improved assays and an assay applicable to acrylamide gels. Analytical Biochemistry, 44, 276-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(71)90370-8
    1. Chaturvedi, P., George, S., Milinganyo, M., & Tripathi, Y. B. (2004). Effect of Momordica charantia on lipid profile and oral glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Phytotherapy Research, 18, 954-956. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1589
    1. Concepcion, N. M., Pilar, M. M., Martin, A., Jimenez, J., & Pilar, U. M. (1993). Free radical scavenger and antihepatotoxic activity of Rosmarinus tomentosus. Planta Medica, 59, 312-314. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-959688
    1. Elias, R. J., Kellerby, S. S., & Decker, E. A. (2008). Antioxidant activity of proteins and Peptides. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 48, 430-441. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408390701425615

Publication types

MeSH terms