Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Properties of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) Fruit

Authors

  • Ee Shian Tan Centre of Biotechnology and Functional Food, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Aminah Abdullah Centre of Biotechnology and Functional Food, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Nur Kartinee Kassim Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Momordica charantia, antioxidant, glucose uptake, acarbose, insulin

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the therapeutic values of local bitter gourd relative to the conventional drugs, especially in managing oxidative stress and blood glucose. The therapeutic values of bitter gourd fruit were evaluated using three antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging system [DPPH], the ability of ferric ion reduction in plasma [FRAP], total phenolic content [TPC]) and three hyperglycemic assays (inhibition of ?-amylase and ?-glucosidase and glucose uptake by human carcinoma liver cell [HepG2]). The result showed that bitter gourd fruit is not only a powerful secondary antioxidant but also a potent anti-diabetic food, which supported the use of bitter gourd fruit in suppressing high blood sugar in traditional medicine.

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Published

2019-11-10

How to Cite

Tan, E. S. ., Abdullah, A. ., & Kassim, N. K. . (2019). Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Properties of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) Fruit. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 48(5), 76–85. Retrieved from https://www.gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/10460

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