Karunanayake E H, Jeevathayaparan S, Tennekoon K H
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Sep;30(2):199-204. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(90)90008-h.
The oral hypoglycaemic activity of Momordica charantia fruit juice was investigated in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Oral administration of the juice (10 ml/kg for 30 days) did not show a significant effect, either acute or cumulative, on the ability to tolerate an external glucose load. The glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations were significantly elevated in both juice-treated and untreated diabetic rats and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Viable beta-cells capable of secreting insulin upon stimulation appear to be required for M. charantia to exert its oral hypoglycaemic activity.
