AMPALAYA

Botany
Ampalaya is a climbing vine, nearly or quite smooth, annual vine. Tendrils are
simple, up to 20 centimeters long. Leaves are 2.5 to 10 centimeters in
diameter, cut nearly to the base into 5 to 7 lobes, oblong-ovate, variously
toothed, and heart-shaped at the base. Male flower is about 12 millimeters
long, and is peduncled, with a rounded, green, and about 1 centimeter long
bract approximately at the middle. Female flower is yellow flower, about 15
millimeters long, long-stalked with pair of small leaflike bracts at middle or
toward base of stalk. Fruit, in cultivated form, is green, fleshy, oblong,
cylindric, 15 to 25 centimeters long, pointed at both ends, ribbed and wrinkled,
bursting when mature to release seeds; in wild forms, ovoid, about 2 to 4
centimeters long. Seeds are oblong, compressed 10 to 13 millimeters long,
and corrugated on the margins.
Distribution
- Year-round vegetable, extensively cultivated in the Philippines for its bitter
edible fruit.
- Wild forms found in open fields, thickets, and waste places at low and
medium altitudes. (See:Ampalayang ligaw)
- Probably of Asiatic origin.
- Pantropic.
Constituents
- Phytochemical study yielded alkaloids, glycosides, aglycone, tannin, sterol,
phenol and protein.
- 1898 study reported a bitter alkaloid and a glucoside.
- Leaves and fruit yielded a bitter principle, momordicin.
- A petroleum ether extractive yielded a highly aromatic ethereal oil, a fixed oil,
traces of free fatty acids and carotene.
- Ethyl ether fraction yielded chlorophyll, a glucoside-like substance and resin.
- Water soluble extractive yielded a saponin-like substance and mucilaginous
bodies.

Properties
- Considered astringent, antidiabetic, abortifacient, antirheumatic,
contraceptive, galactagogue, parasiticide, anthelmintic, purgative, emetic,
antipyretic, febrifuge, emmenagogue, cooling , tonic, vulnerary.
- Fruit considered tonic and stomachic.
Parts utilized
Leaves, roots and fruits.

Uses
Edibility / Nutritional
- Both wild and cultivated forms are edible.
- Fruit of wild form usually roasted over fire and eaten with salt or "heko."
- The leaves and fruit - used as vegetables - are excellent sources of Vit B,
iron, calcium, and phosphorus. It has twice the amount of beta carotene in
broccoli and twice the calcium content of spinach. Characteristically bittertasting, slight soaking in salty water before cooking removes some of the bitter
taste of the fruit.

- In India, fruit eaten in curries.

Folkloric
- In the Philippines, juice expressed from the green fruit is given for chronic
colitis: also used for bacillary dysentery.
- Astringent powdered leaves or root decoction can be applied to hemorrhoids.
- Leaf juice for cough and as a purgative and anthelminthic to expel intestinal
parasites, and for healing wounds.
- Seeds also used to expel worms.
- The vine or the juice of leaves used as mild purgative for children.
- In large doses, the fresh juice is a drastic purgative.
- Decoction of roots and seeds used for urethral discharges.
- Juice of leaves used for chronic coughs.
- Leaves and shoots used as vulnerary.
- Sap of leaves used as parasiticide.
- Fruit macerated in oil used as vulnerary.
- Fruit considered tonic and stomachic; used in rheumatism, gout, and
diseases of the spleen and liver.
- Pounded leaves used for scalds.
- Infusion of leaves or leaf juice used for fevers.
- Used for chronic stomach ulcers.
- Root sometimes used as ingredient in aphrodisiac preparations.
- Decoction of root used as abortifacient.
- Fruit in large doses considered a drastic purgative and abortifacient.
- In India, root used as astringent; applied externally to hemorrhoids.
- In Lagos, decoction of leaves used as stomachic.
- Leaves used as anthelmintic and antipyretic, and applied externally to
leprosy.
- In India and Malaya, pounded leaves are applied to skin diseases, burns and
scalds.
- Poultice of leaves used for headaches.
- Infusion of flowers used for asthma.
- Olive or almond oil infusion of the fruit, without the seeds, used for chapped
hands, hemorrhoids, and burns.
- Root, along with fruits and seeds, used as abortifacient, as well as remedy
for urethral discharges.
- In Batavia, vine used as anthelmintic, purgative, and emetic.

- In Jamaica, leaf decoction or infusion is taken for colds, as laxative and

blood cleanser. Warm tea infusions also used for toothaches and mouth
infections. Also used as a bath/wash for skin eruptions and acne.
Used for eczema, malarial, gout, jaundice, abdominal pain, kidney (stone),
leprosy, leucorrhea, piles, pneumonia, psoriasis, , rheumatism, fever and
scabies. Also, boiled leaves and decoction of plant used to promote lochia.
- In Antilles, sweetened decoction of leaves used as emmenagogue and
vermifuge.
- In Cuba, used for diabetes mellitus; used for wounds refractive to other
treatments, for skin disease, and for sterility in women.
- In Puerto Rico, used for diabetes.
- In Indo-China, fruit macerated in salted water used for fluxes, catarrh, and
children's coughs. Seeds employed in the treatment of dysentery.
- In Brazil, seeds used as anthelmintic.
In China, used as hypoglycemic and antidiabetic.
In Turkey, used for healing of cutaneous lesions and peptic ulcers.
Others
- Seeds with oil, employed as cosmetic.
- Leaves used to clean metals.

Philippine News: Diabetes Mellitus

A Philippine herb that has recently gained international recognition for its
possible benefits in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Despite its bitter taste,
it has also become a popular nutritional drink for a boost of vim and vigor. In
fact, the more bitter, the better, as it is believed that the bitterness is
proportionate to its potency.
Studies have suggested that ampalaya contains a hypoglycemic
polypeptide, a plant insulin responsible for its blood sugar lowering effect.
Other benefits suggested were body detoxification (including removal of
nicotine), strengthening of the immune system and fertility regulation.
It is increasingly recommended as an adjunct or supplement to traditional
therapeutic regimens for diabetes mellitus.
Other (Kitchen) Preparations
Steam ampalaya tops (upper four leaves) and eat half a cup twice daily. As a
decoction, boil six tablespoons of finely chopped leaves in two glasses of
water over low fire (for 15 minutes). Drink 1/3 cup, three times a day, 30
minutes before meals. Don't use aluminum pots (clay or enamel only).
Studies

 Analgesic / Cholinomimetic: A methanol leaf extract study of Mormodica

charantia in rodents suggested cholinomimetic and analgesic activities. (1)
Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties:Adaptogenic properties are
indicated by the delay in the appearance of cataracts, the secondary
complications of diabetes and relief in neurological and other common
symptoms even before the hypoglycemia occurred. (2)
Anti-inflammatory / Membrane Stabilizing Property: The study reports the
anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of an aqueous extract of
Mormodica charantia leaves in rats. The results suggest the anti-inflammatory
activity may not be related to membrane-stabilization. (3)
Antimicrobial: Study on various extracts of Cassia tora, Calendula
officinalis and Mormodica charantia showed activity against all tested bacteria,
Staph aureus being more susceptible to the aqueous extracts. (4)
Larvicidal: Study showed M. charantia to have good larvicidal activity against
three container breeding mosquitoes: An. stephensi, Cx quinquefasciatus and
Ae. aegypti suggesting a potential for the fruit extracts use in potable waters
against mosquito larvae. (6)
Antidiabetic / Estrous Cyclicity Effect: Study results suggest the antidiabetic
potential of MC and AP could restore the impaired estrous cycle in alloxaninduced diabetic rats.(7)
Antidiabetic / Saponins: Study showed the saponin constituents extracted
from MC induced significant hypoglycemic activity in hyperglycemic and
normal mice. (8)
Anxiolytic / Antidepressant / Antiinflammatory: Study of methanol extract of
dried leaves of MC showed significant anxiolytic activity and antidepressant
and antiinflammatory activities. (9)
Antidiabetic / Glucose Lowering: A water soluble extract of the fruit
significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in diabetic and after forcefeeding in rats. Fried karela fruits consumed as daily dietary supplement
produced a small but significant improvement in glucose tolerance.
Antidiabetic: An aqueous powder extract of the fresh unripe whole fruit
reduced fasting glucose by 48% comparable to glibenclamide, a known
synthetic drug. Testing showed no nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. As an
edible vegetable, it presents a safe alternative to reducing blood glucose.
Antidiabetic: Study targeted a 1% decline in A1c with an estimated power of
88%. With the observed decline of 0.24%, the achieved power was only 11%.

Study failed to make a definite conclusion on M. charantia's effectiveness.

Anti-Ulcerogenic / Gastroprotective: An olive oil extract of M charantia
showed ulcer inhibition a gastroprotective effect against indomethacin. (12)
Phytochemicals: Study of chemical constituents of unmatured fruits yielded
vincine, mycose, momordicoside A and momordicoside B.
Phytochemicals / Extract-Metformin Synergism: Study yielded alkaloids,
glycosides, aglycone, tannin, sterol, phenol and protein. Use of the extract for
pharmacologic interactions with half doses of metformin or glibenclamide or
both in combination caused a decrease in blood sugar greater than that
caused by full doses in a 7-day treatment study. Results suggest a synergism
activity.
Antioxidant: Study of Momordica charantia fruit extract exerts a protection to
AC-induced hyperammonemic rats against oxidative stress possibly through
prevention or inhibition of the lipid peroxidative system by its antioxidant,
hepatoprotective effect and maintenance of cellular integrity. (15)
Antioxidant / Chemoprotective: Study demonstrated the antioxidant and
chemoprotective activities of M. charantia fruit extract in experimental rat
models. Results strongly suggest chemoprotective action against CCl4induced toxicity. Indirect inhibition of CYP1A dependent activities suggest a
promising cancer chemopreventive action by lowering metabolic activation of
various carcinogens and/or procarcinogens.(19)
Review / Cucurbitane-type Triterpenoids / Charantin: Cucurbitane-type
triterpenoids are the main active constituents of M. charantia. Some have
potential biological and pharmaceutical activities including anti-diabetic, antiobesity, anticancer, anti-HIV, antifeedant and antioviposition
activities.Charantin, an anti-diabetic compound, is a typical cucurbitane-type
triterpenoid, with a potential for the the treatment of diabetes. (18)
Antioxidant / Chemoprotective: Study of bitter melon extract modulates
signal transduction pathways for inhibition of breast cancer cell growth and
can be used as a dietary supplement for breast cancer prevention. (22)
Obesity / Adipogenesis Reduction: Study of bitter melon juice showed potent
inhibition of lipogenesis and stimulator of lipolysis activity in human
adipocytes. BMJ can be an effective alternative therapy to reduce
adipogenesis in humans. (23)
Antileukemic Potential / Seeds: Study of fractionated seed extracts in human
myeloid HL60 cells showed differentiation inducing activity with potential for

use in differentiation therapy for leukemia in combination with other inducers

of differentiation. (24)
Anti-Dengue: Study of evaluated the antiviral effects of six plants on dengue
virus serotype 1 (DENV-1). Results showed the methanol extracts of A.
paniculata and M. charantia possess the ability of inhibiting the activity of
DENV-1 in in vitro studies. (25)
Anti-Diabetes / Review: Bitter gourd increases insulin secretion of the
pancreas, decreases intestinal glucose uptake, and increases uptake and
utilization of glucose in peripheral tissues. Although human studies are weak
in design and results, some studies do indicate safety and anti-diabetic
effects. (26)
Hepatoprotective / Acetaminophen Intoxication: Study evaluated the
hepatocurative effects of Mormodica fruit extracts in rabbits intoxicated with
acetaminophen. Results showed animals treated with the fruit extract had less
liver damage due to acetaminophen intoxication, indicating hepatoprotective
properties. (27)
Inhibition of Human Adipocyte Differentiation: Study showed bitter melon
is a potent inhibitor of lipogenesis and stimulator of lipolysis activity in human
adipocytes. Results suggest bitter melon juice may prove to be an effective
complementary or alternative therapy to reduce adipogenesis in humans.(28)
Antifungal: Study showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus,
Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Phytochemicals identified included
steroids, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and terpenoids. (29)
Hypoglycemic and Antiglycation Activities: Two-arm, parallel,
randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial evaluated the fruit pulp
effect of bitter melon on long-term glycemic control and glycation status in T2
diabetic patients. Results showed reduction of A1C from baseline greater than
the placebo group, with a significant decline of total advanced glycation
endproducts. Study concludes bitter melon is beneficial not only for glycemic
control, but also on potential systemic complications of type 2 diabetes
mellitus. (30)
Toxicity
None known.

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Perennial vegetable market
produce.
- Tablet and capsule
formulations in the
cybermarket.