Bitter gourd

Bitter melon/Drug Interactions:

  • AbortifacientsAbortifacients: Based on animal study, bitter melon may induce abortion (15; 16; 17), reduce fertility rates, (24), or inhibit spermatogenesis (25).
  • AnthelminticsAnthelmintics: Based on an assay using free-living nematodes, a crude extract of Momordica charantia may have anthelmintic activity (19).
  • Antidiabetic agentsAntidiabetic agents: Based on animal experiments, several methodologically weak human studies, and a case report, bitter melon may lower blood glucose levels (1; 2; 3; 4; 42; 46; 47; 44; 43; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 35; 48; 34; 33; 49; 50).
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: Based on animal data and human study, bitter melon may reduce apolipoprotein B and lower triglyceride levels (27; 28; 29; 30).
  • Antineoplastic agentsAntineoplastic agents: Based on in vitro study, bitter melon leaf extracts may reverse chemotherapy drug resistance (51). Based on human and in vitro study, bitter melon, and MAP30 and cis(c)9, trans(t)11, t13-conjugated linolenic acid isolated from bitter melon extract may have antineoplastic effects (8; 7; 10; 11; 52; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57).
  • Antiviral agentsAntiviral agents: Based on in vitro study and one case report, bitter melon and MAP30 isolated from bitter melon extract may have antiviral activity, specifically against HIV (7; 10; 14; 13; 58).
  • Antiretroviral agents, protease inhibitorsAntiretroviral agents, protease inhibitors: Based on in vitro study and one case report, bitter melon and MAP30 isolated from bitter melon extract may have antiviral activity, specifically against HIV (7; 10; 14; 13; 58).
  • Antiretroviral agentsAntiretroviral agents: Based on in vitro study and one case report, bitter melon and MAP30 isolated from bitter melon extract may have antiviral activity, specifically against HIV (7; 10; 14; 13; 58).
  • DexamethasoneDexamethasone: Based on in vivo study, Map30 isolated from bitter melon may enhance the therapies of the HIV antagonists, dexamethasone and indomethacin (12).
  • Fertility agentsFertility agents: Based on animal study, bitter melon may induce abortion (15; 16; 17), reduce fertility rates, (24), or inhibit spermatogenesis (25).
  • Hepatotoxic agentsHepatotoxic agents: Based on animal study, bitter melon may significantly increase gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase levels, although these increases were not associated with significant histopathological changes in the liver (45).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: Based on in vitro study, proteins isolated from the seeds of bitter melon may inhibit the mitogenic responses of splenocytes and decrease the functional capacity of macrophages (17).
  • IndomethacinIndomethacin: Based on in vivo study, Map30 isolated from bitter melon may enhance the therapies of the HIV antagonists, dexamethasone and indomethacin (12).
  • P-glycoprotein regulated drugsP-glycoprotein regulated drugs: Based on in vivo study, 1-monopalmitin found in bitter melon may inhibit p-glycoprotein-mediated efflux, and may alter pharmacokinetics of some drugs (59; 60).

    • Bitter melon/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AbortifacientsAbortifacients: Based on animal study, bitter melon may induce abortion (15; 16; 17), reduce fertility rates, (24), or inhibit spermatogenesis (25).
  • AntihelminthicsAntihelminthics: Based on an assay using free-living nematodes, a crude extract of Momordica charantia may have anthelmintic activity (19).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: Based on animal data and human study, bitter melon may reduce apolipoprotein B and lower triglyceride levels (27; 28; 29; 30).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: Based on in vitro study, bitter melon leaf extracts may reverse chemotherapy drug resistance (51). Based on human and in vitro study, bitter melon, and MAP30 and cis(c)9, trans(t)11, t13-conjugated linolenic acid isolated from bitter melon extract may have antineoplastic effects (8; 7; 10; 11; 52; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57).
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: Based on an assay, extracts from bitter melon may have significant antioxidant properties (20).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Based on in vitro study and one case report, bitter melon and MAP30 isolated from bitter melon extract may have antiviral activity, specifically against HIV (7; 10; 14; 13; 58).
  • Fertility agentsFertility agents: Based on animal study, bitter melon may induce abortion (15; 16; 17), reduce fertility rates, (24), or inhibit spermatogenesis (25).
  • Hepatotoxic herbsHepatotoxic herbs: Based on animal study, bitter melon may significantly increase gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase levels, although these increases were not associated with significant histopathological changes in the liver (45).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Based on animal experiments, several methodologically weak human studies, and a case report, bitter melon may lower blood glucose levels (1; 2; 3; 4; 42; 46; 47; 44; 43; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 35; 48; 34; 33; 49; 50).
  • ImmunostimulantsImmunostimulants: Based on in vitro study, proteins isolated from the seeds of bitter melon may inhibit the mitogenic responses of splenocytes and decrease the functional capacity of macrophages (17).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: Based on in vitro study, proteins isolated from the seeds of bitter melon may inhibit the mitogenic responses of splenocytes and decrease the functional capacity of macrophages (17).
  • P-glycoprotein modulatorsP-glycoprotein modulators: Based on in vivo study, 1-monopalmitin found in bitter melon may inhibit p-glycoprotein-mediated efflux, and may alter pharmacokinetics of some drugs (59; 60).

    • Bitter melon/Food Interactions:

  • Insufficient available evidence.

    • Bitter melon/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood glucose levelsBlood glucose levels: Based on animal experiments, several methodologically weak human studies, and a case report, bitter melon may lower blood glucose levels (1; 2; 3; 4; 42; 46; 47; 44; 43; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 35; 48; 34; 33; 49; 50).
  • CD4 countCD4 count: Based on a case report, bitter melon may increase CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratios in patients with HIV (58)
  • Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c): Based on animal experiments, several methodologically weak human studies, and a case report, bitter melon may lower HbA1c (2; 34; 5).
  • Lipid panelLipid panel: Based on animal data and human study, bitter melon may reduce apolipoprotein B and lower triglyceride levels (27; 28; 29; 30).
  • Liver panelLiver panel: Based on animal study, bitter melon fruit juice and seed extract may increase GGT and alkaline phosphatase levels, although these increases have not been associated with significant histopathological changes in the liver (45).
  • Semen analysisSemen analysis: Based on animal study, bitter melon may induce abortion (15; 16; 17), reduce fertility rates, (24), or inhibit spermatogenesis (25).
  • Serum levels of P-glycoprotein regulated drugsSerum levels of P-glycoprotein regulated drugs: Based on in vivo study, 1-monopalmitin found in bitter melon may inhibit p-glycoprotein-mediated efflux, and may alter pharmacokinetics of some drugs (59; 60).
  • Viral loadViral load: Based on in vitro study and one case report, bitter melon and MAP30 isolated from bitter melon extract may have antiviral activity, specifically against HIV (7; 10; 14; 13; 58).