Extracts of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) found to have anti-obesity effects through increased lipid metabolism

Oil extracts from the seeds of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) could aid in weight loss, research from China demonstrates. The study, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism, also looked at the potential of bitter melon seed oil in restoring the balance between lipid intake and metabolism.

• Researchers from the Hefei University of Technology and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences obtained the bitter melon seed oil using a process called supercritical extraction.
• A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the extract contained 42.60 percent of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA, cis9, trans11, trans13-18:3) and 13.7 percent of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, cis9, trans11-18:2).
• The oil extract was then used in vivo experiments involving mice that were fed a high-fat diet. The mice were separated into four groups, with three receiving differing amounts of bitter melon seed oil and the remaining one serving as a control group. Each group was given the following amounts: one gram per kilogram of body weight (g/kg), 5 g/kg, and 10 g/kg, respectively.
• After three weeks, the body weight and length of the mice were recorded, and the fat pads in the adipose capsule (perirenal) and the epididymis were harvested.
• Based on the results, mice that were supplemented with bitter melon seed oil has a decrease in the body weight and fat tissue size.

Researchers deduced that bitter melon seed oil, with its anti-obesity property, could be used to regulate lipid metabolism and leptin.

Find the full text of the study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Xu L, Xu Y, Wang S, Deng Q, Wu CY, Chen XT, Wang HL. NOVEL BITTER MELON EXTRACTS HIGHLY YIELDED FROM SUPERCRITICAL EXTRACTION REDUCE THE ADIPOSITY THROUGH THE ENHANCED LIPID METABOLISM IN MICE FED A HIGH FAT DIET. Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism. December 2016;6:26–32. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnim.2016.04.002