“The plant is reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. The plant extract inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy and inhibiting cancer stem cells. The plant is rich in bioactive chemical constituents like cucurbitane type triterpenoids, triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, fatty acids, and proteins. Some of the isolated compounds (Kuguacin J, Karaviloside XI, Kuguaglycoside C, Momordicoside Q–U, Charantin, α-eleostearic acid) and proteins (α-Momorcharin, RNase MC2, MAP30) possess potent biological activity. In the present review, we are summarizing the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities of Momordica charantia along with a short account of important chemical constituents, providing a basis for establishing detail biological activities of the plant and developing novel drug molecules based on the active chemical constituents.”
“MC has been cultivated traditionally in developing countries like India, China, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Haiti, Mexico, Malaya, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru, and is commonly used for the treatment of diabetes and colics [12–13]. MC is also used as antiviral, anti-malarial, and anti-bacterial agent, while it is applied for wound healing and treatment of peptic ulcers in Traditional Turkish medicine. In Indian medicinal systems, MC is reported to possess anti-diabetic, abortifacient, anti- helminthic, anti-malarial, and laxative properties, while it is also used for treatment of dysmenorrhea, emmenagogue, eczema, gout, galactagogue, kidney (stone), jaundice, leucorrhea, leprosy, pneumonia, piles, rheumatism, and psoriasis [14].”
“Various extracts of MC are studied for biological activities, including anti-oxidant [15], anti-diabetic [16], anti-cancer [17], anti-inflammatory [18], anti-bacterial [19], antifungal [20], anti-viral [21], anti-HIV [22], anti-helminthic [23], anti-mycobac-terial [24], hypotensive [25], anti-obesity [26], immunomodulatory [27], anti-hyperlipidemic [28], hepatoprotective [29], and neuropro-tective [30] activities. Several chemical constituents such as cucurbitane type triterpenoids, cucurbitane type glycosides, triterpene saponins, phenolic, and flavonoid compounds, and some protein fractions have been isolated from MC [31]. In the present review, we are summarizing some of the important reports dealing with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti- cancer activities of MC along with its reported chemical constituents and their biological activities.”
https://draxe.com/nutrition/bitter-melon/
• Managing blood sugar levels and diabetes
• Reducing respiratory infections such as pneumonia
• Lowering inflammation and raising immunity
• Treating abdominal pain, peptic ulcers, constipation, cramps and fluid retention
• Increasing cancer-protection
• Reducing fevers and coughs
• Lowering menstrual irregularity
• Treating skin conditions including eczema, scabies and psoriasis
• Antiviral, antibacterial and anthelmintic properties (including those that can be used to prevent or treat parasites, HIV/AIDS, malaria and even leprosy)
• Treating gout, jaundice and kidney stones
• Managing symptoms of autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bitter-melon
“6 Benefits of Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd) and Its Extract”
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/bitter-melon-and-diabetes
“Bitter Melon and Diabetes”
Best product I found considering price/performance is called Jarrow Glucose Optimizer:
https://jarrow.com/products/glucose-optimizer-120-tablets
(You can find it for about $20 elsewhere)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509575/
“After a five-week treatment, bitter melon lyophilized superfine grinding powder (BLSP) had a higher antidiabetic activity with reducing fasting blood glucose levels from 21.40 to 12.54 mmol/L, the serum insulin levels from 40.93 to 30.74 mIU/L, and restoring activities of SOD compared with those in the bitter melon hot air drying powder (BAP) treated group. Furthermore, BLSP protected pancreatic tissues including islet beta cells and reduced the loss of islet cells. Combined with the difference of compositions in BLSP and BAP, it could be concluded that superfine grinding and lyophilization processes were beneficial for presenting the antidiabetic activity, which will provide a reference for direct utilization of bitter melon as a suitable functional food to relieve symptoms of diabetes.” ————————————————— https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4027280/
“With the traditional use supported by modern scientific evidence of the beneficial function of M. charantia, it is one of the most promising plants for diabetes today[11],[61]. Investigation of the traditional uses of M. charantia in India revealed that it is one of the most important plant for lowering blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes[43].”
The NIB article is comparing two means of preparing bitter melon, and comparing bitter melon to other plants as antidiabetics. It is good to know as all these herbal remedies can vary wildly in effect due to preparation. Now need something to compare to other diabetes treatments.