Using extractions from bitter melon (cucurbitane triterpenoids), researchers were able to show that, in mice, bitter melon could stimulate parts of the body’s glucose metabolism system. Basically, there is a glucose receptor in fat and muscles cells that moves more toward the surface of the cell when the bitter melon extract is present. This would remove sugar from the blood stream (much like insulin does).
The bitter melon extract may be useful in treating diabetes by helping the body to digest sugar molecules in the blood, thereby lowering blood sugar.
Right now, this is experimental and has only been used in animals. We do not know exactly which chemicals make the difference nor how much of the chemicals are needed. Stay tuned for more information on this potential alternative to insulin for diabetes management.
Source(s): Min-Jia Tan, Ji-Ming Ye, Nigel Turner, Cordula Hohnen-Behrens, Chang-Qiang Ke, Chun-Ping Tang, Tong Chen, Hans-Christoph Weiss, Ernst-Rudolf Gesing, Alex Rowland, David E. James, and Yang Ye. Antidiabetic Activities of Triterpenoids Isolated from Bitter Melon Associated with Activation of the AMPK Pathway. Chemistry and Biology 2008 15: 263-273.
