Bitter Melon Extract Powder
What is bitter melon extract?
Bitter melon extract is an active ingredient extracted from the fruit, seeds, or leaves of the bitter melon (Momordica charantia) and possesses various biological activities. Its main components include polysaccharides such as charantin and bitter melon polysaccharide (MCP), as well as phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. Due to the synergistic effect of its multiple components, this extract exhibits significant health-promoting potential in regulating blood sugar, anti-oxidation, immune support, and anti-inflammation.
Main Components:
Charantin: The core component of bitter melon extract, belonging to the steroidal saponin class of compounds, it can promote glucose metabolism and insulin secretion.
Polysaccharides: Such as bitter melon polysaccharide (MCP), which has immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic effects, and can also improve diabetic complications.
Proteins and Peptides: Possessing ribosome-inactivating protein activity, participating in antiviral and immune-regulating processes.
Phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. They can scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative damage.
Triterpenoids, such as momordicin A-E, K, and L, exhibit anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities.
Multiple Bioactivities of Bitter Melon Extract
Blood Glucose Regulation:
Promotes glucose uptake and utilization, and helps lower blood glucose levels through multiple mechanisms such as regulating insulin secretion, improving insulin resistance, and inhibiting hepatic glycogen output, thus having a positive impact on diabetes management.
Antioxidant Protection:
Effectively scavenges free radicals, reduces oxidative stress damage, helps delay aging, and reduces the risk of oxidation-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases.
Immune Enhancement:
Activates and regulates immune cell function, enhances the body's resistance, and supports the balance and health of the immune system.
Digestion Promotion:
Rich in dietary fiber, it helps promote gastrointestinal motility, improves the intestinal environment, and plays a positive role in maintaining digestive health.
Anti-inflammatory Effects:
Inhibits the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6, reduces inflammatory responses, and has a relieving effect on various inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and enteritis.
Lipid Regulation:
Regulates lipid metabolism, lowers blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and helps prevent cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Antiviral properties:
It has a certain inhibitory effect on HIV, herpes simplex virus, etc., and its activity may be related to specific protein components in the extract.
Applications of Bitter Melon Extract
Functional Foods and Health Products
Used as a core ingredient in blood sugar management health products.
Added to functional beverages, nutritional supplements, and other products to meet health-conscious consumer demands.
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Utilizing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties, it is used in the development of skincare products to improve skin condition.
Agriculture and Sustainable Development
It can be used as a biopesticide or plant growth regulator to promote crop growth, improve quality, and contribute to the development of green agriculture.
Pharmaceuticals and Health
As a natural active ingredient with blood sugar-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating properties, it is used to assist in diabetes management, inflammation relief, and related drug development.
Method 1:
Fresh, green-skinned bitter melon from the market was washed, drained, and cut into small pieces. 200g of bitter melon pieces were weighed for each experiment, extracted with water under designed conditions, filtered through 200-mesh gauze, and the filtrate was concentrated under vacuum at 60℃ to approximately 100ml. This filtrate was then dried under vacuum at 60℃ until constant weight, and weighed to obtain momordicin.
Method 2:
Using bitter melon as raw material, momordicin was extracted from bitter melon using microwave extraction. The effects of the feed-to-liquid ratio, microwave output power, extraction time, and solvent volume on the extraction efficiency of momordicin were investigated, and the optimal microwave extraction process was selected. Experimental results showed that a feed-to-liquid ratio of 1:5, a microwave output power of 700W, an extraction time of 6min, a solvent volume of 22mL·g⁻¹, and a wetting water volume of 6mL·g⁻¹ were optimal. Applying microwave technology to the extraction of momordicin effectively enhanced the extraction process, shortened the extraction time, and reduced impurities. The specific steps are as follows:
1) Raw material pretreatment: Wash and dry commercially available bitter melons, or sun-dry them. Then cut them into small pieces and dry them in an electric constant-temperature drying oven. Grind the dried bitter melon pieces in a mortar and pestle to form a powder of about 0.84 mm. Place the powder in a large beaker for later use.
2) Extraction of crude bitter melon glycosides: Weigh a certain amount of the ground bitter melon powder sample and place it in an extraction flask, distributing it as evenly as possible at the bottom. Add a small amount of distilled water, followed by a small amount of hydrochloric acid, allowing the bitter melon sample to soak for a period of time. Then add a certain amount of extraction solvent, ethanol. Connect the flask to a condenser and extract under microwave conditions. After extraction, allow it to cool naturally and then filter to obtain the filtrate.
3) Separation and purification of the product: Filter all the substances in the round-bottom flask. Wash the residue with the extraction medium. After filtration, separate the residue and transfer the filtrate to a clean round-bottom flask. The filtrate was subjected to vacuum distillation using a rotary evaporator. After distillation, the extract was separated, and the extractant was recovered. The extract was dried at 50°C to constant weight, and the weight of the obtained extract was measured.
