Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a tropical vine of the Cucurbitaceae family.

• Its fruit, leaves, and seeds have been used for centuries in Asian, African, and Caribbean cuisines and traditional medicine.
• The plant is prized for its intense bitterness and a rich array of phytochemicals.
• It has been investigated for metabolic, antioxidant, and anti‑inflammatory actions.
• It is a popular ingredient in dietary supplements aimed at supporting glucose regulation and overall metabolic health.

Bitter melon’s key bioactives include:

• Charantin (C₅₇H₈₈O₁₁, IUPAC: 6‑O‑β‑D‑glucosyl‑β‑D‑glucopyranosyl‑31‑hydroxy‑28‑sulfonic‑30‑carboxy‑5‑hydroxy‑21‑(3‑hydroxy‑4‑methoxy‑phenyl)‑25‑(3‑hydroxy‑4‑methoxy‑phenyl)‑26‑(3‑hydroxy‑4‑methoxy‑phenyl)‐24‑(3‑hydroxy‑4‑methoxy‑phenyl)‑10‑(2‑hydroxy‑5‑methoxy‑phenyl)–pyrano‑1,4‑dioxane‑2‑yl)‑(1‑R,2‑S).
• Momordicosides A–F (triterpenoid saponins, C₄₈–C₅₁H⇸–H⇸₆O₁₃–O₁₈).
• Cucurbitacins (e.g., cucurbitacin B: C₃₈H₅₆O₈, a steroidal triterpenoid with a C‑19‑hydroxyl and a Δ⁴,⁵ double bond).
• Phenolic acids (gallic acid, C₇H₆O₅) and flavonoids (quercetin, C₁₅H₁₀O₇).
• These compounds are predominantly glycosylated, enhancing water solubility.
• The lipophilic aglycone cores confer membrane‑interacting abilities that underlie receptor‑binding and enzyme‑inhibitory actions.

• Commercial bitter‑melon supplements are sourced mainly from India, China, and Vietnam.
• The fruit is harvested at the mature green stage to maximize charantin and cucurbitacin levels.
• Extraction typically employs aqueous ethanol (70 % v/v) followed by spray‑drying or freeze‑drying to preserve heat‑labile saponins.
• Super‑critical CO₂ extraction is increasingly used to produce high‑purity, solvent‑free extracts.
• Quality control focuses on:
  • (i) charantin content (≥10 % w/w)
  • (ii) absence of heavy metals (Pb <0.1 ppm, Cd <0.05 ppm)
  • (iii) microbial limits (≤10³ CFU/g total aerobic)
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification and third‑party testing (e.g., USP, NSF) are recommended.
  • This ensures consistency, absence of pesticide residues, and accurate labeling of active phytochemical concentrations.