title: Does bitter melon contain an activator of AMP-activated kinase?
abstract: Extracts of the unripe fruit of Momordica charantia--bitter melon, which flourishes throughout the tropics--appear to have utility in the management of type 2 diabetes. Rodent studies suggest that the thus-far-uncharacterized active components of such extracts enhance the efficiency of postprandial glucose storage in muscle and liver, and likely diminish excessive hepatic glucose output, while often down-regulating serum insulin--effects comparable to those reported for metformin. Other parallels between the actions of metformin and bitter melon in rodents appear to include: analogous effects on the hepatic activity of certain enzymes of glucose metabolism; increased expression of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle; a tendency to prevent weight gain; favorable effects on serum lipids; and an anti-promotional impact on cancer induction. Inasmuch as the clinical efficacy of metformin has recently been traced to its ability to activate AMP-activated kinase, it would be of interest to determine whether bitter melon extracts contain activators of this enzyme. The fact that bitter melon has the potential to down-regulate insulin suggests that, beyond its likely utility in the management of diabetes, it may have preventive value with respect to a wide range of disorders in which hyperinsulinemia plays a pathogenic role--and possibly could even favorably impact the aging process.
authors.affiliation: NutriGuard Research, 1051 Hermes Ave., Encinitas, CA 92024, USA. mccarty@pantox.com
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McCarty
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008687:Metformin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases