title: An in vitro study on the risk of non-allergic type-I like hypersensitivity to Momordica charantia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Momordica charantia (MC) is a tropical plant that is extensively used in folk medicine. However, the knowledge about side effects of this plant is relatively little according to knowledge about its therapeutic effects. The aim of this study is to reveal the effects of non-allergic type-I like hypersensitivity to MC by an experiment which was designed in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, the expression of CD63 and CD203c on peripheral blood basophils against different dilutions of MC extracts was measured using flow cytometry and compared with one another. In addition to this, intra-assay CV's of testing extracts were calculated for precision on reproducibility of test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that the fruit extract of MC at 1/100 and 1/1000 dilutions significantly increased active basophils compared to same extract at 1/10000 dilution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, Momordica charantia may elicit a non-allergic type-I like hypersensitivity reaction in especially susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Laboratory, Division of Immunology and Allergy Diseases, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. rilikci@gata.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Rahsan Ilikci
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Sagkan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts