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Abstract
The Glucose-lowering Effects of the Powder of Momordica charantia L. Fruits on Type
2 Diabetic Patients.
Puengjai Punikhom, Suppachai Tiyaworanant, Somchai Suriyakrai*
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
*Corresponding author: somsur@kku.ac.th
Rationale and Objective: To determine the glucose-lowering effect of the powder of wild
bitter-melon (Momordica charantia, or mara khi-nok) fruit in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methodology: This retrospective study was undertaken on the treatment of type 2 diabetic
patients at Saingam hospital, Kamphaeng Phet province, from January 2011 through May 2013,
with bitter-melon powder alone, or combined with glibenclamide or metformin, for at least 84
days. Data were retrieved from the hospital’s electronic database.
Results: The powder of bitter-melon fruit used as monotherpy could decrease blood glu-
cose level by 21.93 ± 31.94 mg/dL (p < 0.001). The result was comparable to add-on therapy to
glibenclamide or metformin, a decrease by 16.40 ± 41.90 mg/dL (p = 0.044) and 24.28 ± 71.80 mg/
dL (p = 0.001), respectively. However, the bitter-melon powder as add-on therapy did not affect
the HbA1c. In the case of monotherapy, the HbA1c level could not be analyzed due to inadequate
data.
Discussion and Conclusion: Bitter-melon fruit powder could decrease fasting blood sugar
levels significantly when used as monotherapy or add-on therapy to glibenclamide or metformin
in type 2 diabetic patients.
Keywords: diabetes mellitus, Momordica charantia L., fasting blood sugar, glibenclamide,
metformin