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Original article:

Cardio-protective properties of Momordica charantia in Albino Rats 
Sheriff OL1, Yusuf FA2

Abstract:
Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter gourd, is used as a vegetable by the Asian communi-
ty in Africa. It is frequently used as an anti-diabetic herb for the management of disease in the Ayurvedic
system of Medicine. This present study was aimed at evaluating possible cardio-protective properties of
M. charantia by determining its effect on blood cholesterol levels in albino rats. The study involved 25
rats and they were divided into 5 groups each comprising of 5 rats. The aqueous extract of M. Charantia
was administered orally with syringes and cannula to 4 groups at different doses (80mg/kg, 100mg/kg,
120mg/kg and 140mg/kg body weights per day, respectively) and the last group served as the control
and were given drug vehicle (normal saline) only. After two weeks of administration, the 25 rats were
sacrificed and blood samples were collected and assayed for total blood cholesterol, triglyceride, high-
density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels. Results indicated that M. charantia plant extract
increased significantly (P<0.05) the low density lipoprotein levels in the experimental group B
(100mg/kg), and significantly reduced low density lipoprotein levels (P<0.05) in the experimental group
A (80mg/kg), when compared to the control group. This study showed that M. charantia plant extract
has cardio-protective properties by its dose-dependent effects on blood cholesterol. 

Key Words: momordica charantia, cardio-protective, orally, dose-dependent, cholesterol 

Introduction
Finding healing powers in plants is an ancient idea.
People on all continents have long applied poul-

tices and imbibed infusions of hundreds, if not

thousands, of indigenous plants, dating back to

prehistory
1
.

It is estimated that there are 250,000 to 500,000

species of plants on Earth
2
. Relatively small per-

centages (1 to 10%) of these are used as foods by

both humans and other animal species. It is possi-
ble that even more are used for medicinal purpos-

es3. Momordica charantia (MC), a member of the
Cucurbitaceae family, is known as bitter melon,
bitter gourd, balsam pear, karela, and pare. It
grows in tropical areas of the Amazon, East
Africa, Asia, India, South America, and the
Caribbean and is used traditionally as both food
and medicine. 
Several studies revealed that this plant has anti-
ulcer, anti-diabetic, antifungal, anti-leukemic, anti-
protozoan, antibacterial, anti-fertility, antiviral,

and hypoglycemic effects
3, 4, 5

.

Cholesterol is a waxy steroid metabolite found in

the cell membrane and transported in the blood

plasma of animals
6
. It is an essential structural

component of mammalian cell membranes and also
an important component for the manufacture of
bile acids, steroid hormones and fat soluble vita-

mins
7
. Cholesterol, being amphipathic, is trans-

ported in the surface monolayer of the lipoprotein
particle.
There are several lipoproteins within the blood;
these include chylomicrons, very-low density
lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipopro-
teins (IDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and
high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The lipoprotein
particles are molecular addresses that determine
the start- and endpoint for cholesterol transport.
The more cholesterol and less protein a lipoprotein
has, the less dense it is. The LDL molecules are

the major carriers of cholesterol in the blood8.
Studies have shown that having large numbers of
HDL particles correlates with better health out-
comes; in contrast to having small numbers which
has been associated with atheromatous disease pro-

gression within the arteries
2
. Low HDL cholesterol

is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. 

1. Ojulari Lekan Sheriff, Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin.
2. Yusuf FA, Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin.

Corresponds to: Ojulari Lekan Sheriff, Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. e-
mail: Ojulari@unilorin.edu.ng

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 03 July’13

291



Clinical evidence also indicates that a low level of
HDL is a major risk factor of atherosclerosis.
Raising HDL significantly reduces this risk, mak-
ing HDL levels an important target of treatment,
particularly in patients with pre-existing athero-
sclerosis.

Both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels are impor-
tant factors to determining the risk for coronary
artery disease. An increase in coronary artery dis-
ease is associated with increased LDL and

decreased HDL cholesterol levels
10
.

As high LDL and low HDL are both independent
risk factors for heart disease, the ratio of the two
numbers is a useful tool to evaluate cardiovascular
risk. Numerous natural substances have been
shown to positively affect the HDL/LDL ratio.
Triglycerides are esters composed of a glycerol
bound to three fatty acids. They are major compo-
nents of VLDL and chylomicrons and play an
important role in metabolism as energy sources
and transporters of dietary fat. High levels in the
bloodstream have been linked to some cardiovas-

cular diseases
11

.

Despite the widespread usage of this plant in folk
medicine in the management of many health con-
ditions, only a few, nonrandomized clinical studies

have investigated the effects of MC in humans
12, 13,

16, 15
. It is therefore crucial to conduct more studies

which will shed more light on its other physiolog-
ical effects. This study therefore seeks to assess
possible cardio-protective properties of MC by
determining its effect on the blood cholesterol level
in rats.

Materials and methods:
Experimental protocol: Twenty-five albino rats
(mean weight 150-180g) were maintained under
standard laboratory conditions and were allowed
free access to food and water ad libitum. Animals
were divided randomly into five groups.  Control
(distilled water): group A, MC (80mg/kg for 14
days); group B, MC (100mg/kg for 14 days),
group C, MC (120mg/kg for 14 days); and group
D, MC (140mg/kg for 14 days).

Extract, route and blood collection: The leaves
of MC were aired and dried and milled into pow-

der. 1.5 kg of the sample was percolated in 13
liters of water for about 48 hours, after which it
was filtered and evaporated using water bath to
give about 220g of a dark solid extract which was

stored at 40C temperature before physiological
studies were made before oral administration.
After two weeks of administration, the 25 rats
were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after being
anaesthetized with chloroform. Blood samples
were obtained through cardiac puncture.

Statistical analysis: All results were expressed as
mean±SEM. Data was analysed by one-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan New
Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Differences in
means were considered significant at P<0.05. All
analysis was performed using SPSS Version 17.

Results 
Effect of Momordica charantia (MC) on total cho-
lesterol: Administration of MC caused insignificant
changes in the total cholesterol levels in experi-
mental groups after 14 days of treatment when
compared to the control group (fig1).

Effect of Momordica charantia on Triglyceride:
The effect of MC on triglyceride is shown in fig
2. Triglyceride levels for the treated groups A, B,
C and D (1.4, 1.6, 1.2,1.6 mmol/L) were not sig-
nificantly different from the compared controls
after 14 days of treatment.

Effect of Momordica charantia on HDL-C: The
effect of MC on HDL-C was depicted in fig 3.
Administration of MC had no significant impact on
HDL as evidenced by measured values of 0.5, 1.0,
0.5, 1.0 mmol/L for groups A, B, C, and D
respectively.

Effect of Momordica charantia on LDL-C: The
measured levels of LDL-C showed significant
changes in the groups A (80mg/kg) and B
(100mg/kg). It was significantly lowered in group
A (1.1 mmol/L) and signicantly raised in group B,
when compared with the control. The other exper-
imental groups showed no significant changes
when compared to the control (fig 4).

Discussion
The study revealed insignificant changes in total
cholesterol level in MC administered rats as com-

Cardio-protective properties of Momordica charantia in Albino Rats

292



pared with controls. The blood triglyceride levels
and HDL-C levels exhibited insignificant increases
and decreases while the LDL-C levels showed sig-
nificant changes at different doses of administra-
tion. These results suggest that MC, when admin-
istered orally and at doses employed, has a signif-
icant dose/duration modulating effect on blood
cholesterol levels.

The normal total cholesterol levels seen in our
study indicates that MC possibly has no effect on
total cholesterol levels. This is contrary to findings

of Chaturvedi et al; 2004
16
, who reported that rats

exposed to MC for 30 days had significantly low-

ered total blood cholesterol levels. This differing
result is probably due to the difference in duration
and dose of administration. It therefore appears
that the effect of MC on total cholesterol levels in
rats is both dose and duration dependent, with the
duration factor being more pronounced.

The triglyceride level usually provides a useful
index for cardiovascular risk assessment in exper-
imental studies. The observed levels in control and
experimental rats suggest that the administration of
MC at doses and duration used had no effect on
blood levels. This is contrary to results by
Chatuvedi and Ahmed et al in which triglyceride
levels showed a dose-dependent response to the

MC extract
16,17

. It may therefore be plausible to
note that the levels of blood triglyceride may be
associated with the insensitivity of triglyceride to
MC in-vivo, which is likely due to the short dura-
tion of treatment.

The LDL-C level in this study showed significant
increase and decrease at differing doses.
Experimental rats in group B showed significantly
lowered LDL-C levels. This corresponds to results
observed in studies carried out by Chaturvedi

(2005) in which LDL-C levels where found to be

low, even in the groups on 80mg/kg dose
18
. This is

probably due to the lowering effect of MC on
apolipoprotein B (Apo B) secretion by the liver,

with a consequent reduction in LDL-C levels
19
.

Experimental rats in group B showed significantly
increased LDL-C blood levels. This also corre-
sponds to results in studies by Chaturvedi in which
LDL-C levels increased significantly after admin-

istration of higher doses of MC
18
.

Serum lipids are important markers for overall car-
diovascular risk. According to the Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an esti-
mated 106.9 million American adults have elevat-
ed total blood cholesterol levels; approximately

47.9 percent of men and 49.7 percent of women
20
.

The World health Organization states that 18 per-
cent of stroke events and about 56 percent of heart
disease is attributable to total cholesterol levels
above 3.2 mmol/l, which amounts to about 4.4

million deaths
21
.

According to the lipid hypothesis, abnormal cho-

Sheriff OL, Yusuf FA

293

Groups Mean 
(mg/ml) 

S.E.M. P-value 

Control 2.4 2.4 ± 0.2  
A (80mg/kg) 3.2 3.2 ± 0.3 P > 0.05 

B (100mg/kg) 2.5 2.5 ± 0.3 P > 0.05 
C (120mg/kg)  2.6 2.6 ± 0.2 P > 0.05 
D (140mg/kg) 2.1 2.1 ± 0.2 P > 0.05 

Table 1: Total Cholesterol level in Control and 
Experimental rats

Table 2: Triglyceride level in Control and Experimental rats 
Groups Mean 

(mg/ml) 
S.E.M. P-value 

Control 1.4 1.4 ± 0.1  
A (80mg/kg) 1.4 1.4 ± 0.2  P > 0.05 
B (100mg/kg) 1.6 1.6 ± 0.1 P > 0.05 

C (120mg/kg)  1.2 1.2 ± 0.2 P > 0.05 
D (140mg/kg) 1.6 1.6 ± 0.2 P > 0.05 

Groups Mean 
(mg/ml) 

S.E.M. P-value 

Control 0.8 0.8 ± 0.1  
A (80mg/kg) 0.5 0.5 ± 0.2 P > 0.05 
B (100mg/kg) 1.0 1.0 ± 0.1 P > 0.05 
C (120mg/kg)  0.5 0.5 ± 0.1 P > 0.05 
D (140mg/kg) 1.0 1.0 ± 0.2  P > 0.05 

Table 3: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in 
Control and Experimental rats

Groups Mean 
(mg/ml) 

S.E.M. P-value 

Control 1.3 1.3 ± 0.1  
A (80mg/kg) 1.1 1.1 ± 0.4 P ?  0.05 
B (100mg/kg) 1.4 1.4 ± 0.2 P ?  0.05 
C (120mg/kg)  1.0 1.0 ± 0.2 P > 0.05 
D (140mg/kg) 1.2 1.2 ± 0.1 P > 0.05 

Table 4: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in 
Control and Experimental rats



Cardio-protective properties of Momordica charantia in Albino Rats

294



lesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia)—that is,
higher concentrations of LDL and lower concen-
trations of functional HDL, are strongly associated

with cardiovascular disease
22
. High levels of cho-

lesterol in blood, depending on how it is transport-
ed within lipoproteins, are strongly associated with
progression of atherosclerosis. LDL molecules are
the major carriers of cholesterol in blood. When
there is high level of cholesterol, the molecules are
oxidized and taken up by macrophages, which
become engorged and form foam cells. These cells
often become entrapped in the walls of blood ves-
sels and contribute to atherosclerotic plaque forma-
tion. These plaques are the main causes of heart
attacks, strokes and other serious medical prob-

lems
19
.

As high LDL and low HDL are both independent
risk factors for heart disease, the ratio of the two
numbers is a useful tool to evaluate cardiovascular

risk
11
. In fact, one study showed that a 1 percent

greater LDL value is associated with slightly more
than a 2 percent increase in coronary artery disease

over 6 years, and a 1 percent lower HDL value is
associated with a 3 to 4 percent increase in coro-
nary artery disease, even at total cholesterol levels
less than 200 mg/dl. Additionally, low HDL levels
are associated with increased heart attacks and

death from coronary artery disease
10

. Numerous
natural substances have also been shown to posi-

tively affect the HDL/LDL ratio
23-24

.

The HDL/LDL ratio which is a biomarker for car-
diovascular disease was increased in rats given MC
at longer duration of treatment. This was evi-
denced by the significant decrease in LDL levels at
lower doses of administration of the extract. This
development was shown to be mostly duration
dependent and it appears that longer duration of
treatment may play an important role in the devel-
opment of higher HDL/LDL ratios.

In conclusion, administration of MC, at doses and
duration employed in this study, had dose-depend-
ent cardio-protective properties via its effect on the
blood cholesterol levels. However, there is an indi-
cation that higher doses should be discouraged.

Sheriff OL, Yusuf FA

295



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