Disease relevance of Momordica charantia

• Two serine proteinase inhibitors from seeds of the bitter gourd, BGIA (bitter gourd inhibitor against acidic amino acid-specific proteinase of Streptomyces griseus) and BGIT (bitter gourd trypsin inhibitor), were crystallized for X-ray structure determination [1].
• To evaluate the glycaemic control of bitter gourd during diabetes, diet intake, gain in body weight, water intake, urine sugar, urine volume, glomerular filtration rate and fasting blood glucose profiles were monitored [2].
• 1. alpha-Momorcharin, a glycoprotein isolated from seeds of the bitter gourd, Momordica charantia inhibited incorporation of [3H]thymidine, [3H]leucine and [3H]uridine into P388 (mouse monocyte-macrophage), J774 (Balb/c macrophage), JAR (human placental choriocarcinoma) and sarcoma S180 cell lines [3].

High impact information on Momordica charantia

• Interaction between curry ingredient (karela) and drug (chlorpropamide) [4].
• Single crystals of ribonuclease Mc, a new class of plant ribonuclease from the seeds of the bitter gourd, were obtained from solutions of polyethylene glycol 8000 by the hanging-drop vapour diffusion method [5].
• Ribonuclease MC1 (RNase MC1), isolated from bitter gourd seeds, is a uridine specific RNase belonging to the RNase T2 family [6].
• The RNase NW structurally belongs to the (alpha + beta) class of proteins, having eight helices (five alpha-helices and three 3(10) helices) and six beta-strands, and its structure is highly similar to those of other plant RNases, including a uridylic acid preferential RNase MC1 from bitter gourd seeds [7].
• Amino acid residues in ribonuclease MC1 from bitter gourd seeds which are essential for uridine specificity [8].

Biological context of Momordica charantia

• We found that conjugated linolenic acid from bitter gourd was able to induce apoptosis in mouse preadipogenic 3T3-L1 cells [9].

Anatomical context of Momordica charantia

• Treated cells showed significantly higher activity of acyl CoA oxidase and higher expressions of mRNA of this enzyme and fatty acid-binding protein, indicating that the bitter gourd EA extract was able to act on a natural PPARalpha signaling pathway in this cell line [10].

Associations of Momordica charantia with chemical compounds

• The association constants for the binding of a series of ligands with a galactose-specific lectin from Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) has been determined through the ligand-induced quenching of protein fluorescence [11].
• In the present study, we have investigated the effects of oral feeding of karela fruit juice on the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) drug-metabolizing enzymes in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat [12].
• The cytosolic glutathione concentration was decreased in diabetic rats, and karela juice feeding normalized the effect [12].
• HIV inhibitor from Thai bitter gourd [13].
• Three serine proteinase inhibitors, MCTI-I, MCTI-II, and MCEI-I, were isolated from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia LINN.) seeds [14].

Gene context of Momordica charantia

• Moreover, conjugated linolenic acid from bitter gourd at lower concentrations that was without effects by itself synergistically stimulated TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis [15].
• These results demonstrate that bitter gourd pulp induced IFN-gamma production and show its promise as a means of effective immunostimulatory therapy specific for Th1 cells and IFN-gamma production [16].
• It is thus worth further investigating the PPAR-associated health benefits of bitter gourd [10].
• In this study, the interaction of several free-base and metalloporphyrins with Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) lectin (MCL) was investigated by absorption spectroscopy [17].
• The latter subunit is characterized by an N-terminal sequence showing remarkable similarity to that of the bitter gourd RNase [18].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Momordica charantia

• A galactose binding lectin was isolated from the seeds of the bitter gourd Momordica charantia by delipidation with petroleum ether, extraction with phosphate buffered saline, ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity chromatography on lactogel [19].

References