View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research ISSN: 2322 - 0902 (P) ISSN: 2322 - 0910 (O) International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research Review Article A REVIEW OF HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA W.S.R. TO MADHUMEH Bhageshwary Janagal1*, Chandan Singh2, Rajendra Prasad Purvia3, Manoj Adlakha3 *1MD Scholar, 2H.O.D.,3Assistant Professor, Dept. of Dravyaguna, Dr.S.R. RAU, Jodhpur, India. ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both processes are involved in the development of diabetes. Diabetes is also known as Madhumeha in Ayurveda. Diabetes Mellitus has become a global problem in spite of advances in modern science. Ancient science of Ayurveda has discussed diabetes at length thousands of years ago. Number of diabetic patients are increasing in very high range. Year by year, its growing speed is very fast. In Ayurveda there are many ways to prevent diabetes mellitus and to cure its complications. Ayurvedic medications and management is very helpful and very effective in specially for diabetes. In this paper, trying to explain the hypoglycemic effect of Momordica (Karela) in diabetes mellitus (Madhumeh). Karela is specifically used as a folk medicine for diabetes. Several researches proved that it contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin-like principle, designated as 'plant-insulin', which has been found highly beneficial in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. KEYWORDS: Karela, Momordica Charantia, Diabetes mellitus, Madhumeh, Ayurveda. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is considered as one of the Sedentary habits, consumes food and drinks which five leading causes of death in the world. It is a are cold, unctuous, sweet and fatty items etc, (Fat rich syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a Diet). [3] combination of hereditary and environmental causes, Classification resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels I.) Prameha is classified aetiologically in to Sahaja (hyperglycemia).[1] Being a major degenerative (Hereditary) and Apathya nimittaja (Unwhole- disease, diabetes is found in all parts of the world and some things – food and exercise etc,.). it is becoming the third most lethal disease of II.) According to physical management i. mankind and increasing rapidly.[2] It is the most Apatharpana uthaja prameha describing the lean common endocrine disorder, affecting 16 million diabetic ii. Santharpana uthaja prameha relating individuals in the United States and as many as 200 the obese diabetic. million individuals worldwide. III.) According to the Doshic causes, these Pramehas Madhumeha (Prameha) Ayurvedic remedies are classified as twenty types : i. Vataja pramehas for Madhumeha (diabetes mellitus) are the oldest – There are totally four Vataja pramehas. ii. among all the available therapies, which includes in Pittaja pramehas – There are totally six Pittaja the Prameha category. Pramehas are a list of urinary pramehas. iii. Kaphaja pramehas – There are disorders, especially characterized by profuse totally ten Kaphaja pramehas. [4,5] urination with several abnormal qualities due to Doshic imbalances. The word Prameha is derived Samprapthighatakas (favorable things for from, Pra – means excess, Meha – ksharane - passing disease) of urine. So Prameha is passing excessive urine and Dosha (humur) - Vata, Pitta, Kapha turbid in color (‘prabhootha avila mootrata’). The Dushya – Meda, Mamsa, Kleda, Rakta, Vasa, Majja, main causes of Prameha are lack of exercise and Lasika, Rasa and Ojas improper food habits in excess food intake which Srotas (channel) – Mootravaha falls in the category of Ushna, Snigdha and guru are Srotodusti – Atipravrutti the primal cause of this disease - Fish, curd are good Agni – Dhatvagni example. Foods that increase Kapha, Medhas and Udhbhavasthana – Kostha Moothra are the etiological factors for Prameha. Main Vyaktasthana - Mootravaha srotas (urinary tract)[6] causes Sleeping in day time, lack of exercise, Laziness, IJAPR | January 2018 | Vol 6 | Issue 1 50 Bhageshwary Janagal et al. A Review of Hypoglycemic Effect of Momordica Charantia w.s.r. to Madhumeh Samprapthi (Pathogenesis): Kapha undergoing tropical plant that is widely cultivated in Asia, India, increase by the etiological factors, reaches various East Africa, and South America for its intensely bitter Dooshyas like Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood) etc., As fruits that are commonly used in cooking and as a there is a Shaithilyata (looseness) in the body and it natural remedy for treating diabetes. [12] It is a being fluid predominant, spreads all over the body climbing perennial that usually grows up to 5 m, and and gets vitiated, while spreading it gets mixed with bears elongated fruits with a knobby surface. It is a Medas (fat – adipose tissue), Mamsa (muscle) and useful medicinal and vegetable plant for human Kleda (body fluids). Body fluids which got vitiated health and one of the most promising plants for draw them to the urinary bladder and produces diabetes. [13] Prameha; similarly the Pitta affects them, Vata also According to Ayurveda, pharmacodynamics of brings about vitiation in them and produce Prameha. M.Charantia- [7,8] Rasa- Tikta, Katu Medicinal plants and its products continue to Guna- Laghu, Ruksha be an important therapeutic aid for alleviating the Virya- Ushana ailments of human kind. Herbs for diabetes treatment are not new. Since ancient times, plants and plant Vipak- Katu extracts were used to combat diabetes. Many M.Charantia is Kapha- Pita dosha shamak. It is help in traditional medicines in use are derived from decrease lipid content in body and also reduces fat medicinal plants, minerals and organic matter. [9] from body. The incidence of diabetes is increasing day by Useful Part: fruit, whole parts day. Being a silent killer, it is attacking the young Dose: Swaras= 10-20 ml. [14] generation secretly that increases the burden of Phytochemistry of M. Charantia exchequer on the people as well as the government. The main constituents of bitter melon which Two things are common these days- Side effects and are responsible for the antidiabetic effects are Insulin resistance among the people who are taking triterpene, proteid, steroid, alkaloid, inorganic, lipid, modern medicines for diabetes treatment. It leads to and phenolic compounds. Several glycosides have searching of alternative system of medicine where been isolated from the M. charantia stem and fruit Ayurveda has greater application and importance. and are grouped under the genera of cucurbitane- Ayurveda treats diabetes through drugs, diet, type triterpenoids. [15] Panchakarma and exercise. Many drugs and herbs M.charantia fruits consist glycosides, are used in diabetes. As this way, M.Charantia is very saponins, alkaloids, reducing sugars, resins, phenolic useful in diabetes according to Ayurveda as well as constituents, fixed oil and free acids. M. allopath also. [10] charantia consists the following chemical Momordica charantia, also known as bitter constituents including alkaloids, charantin, charine, melon, Karela, balsam pear, or bitter gourd, is a cryptoxanthin, cucurbitins, cucurbitacins, popular plant used for the treating of diabetes- cucurbitanes, cycloartenols, diosgenin, elaeostearic related conditions amongst the indigenous acids, erythrodiol, galacturonic acids, gentisic acid, populations of Asia, South America, India, the goyaglycosides, goyasaponins, guanylate cyclase [11] Caribbean and East Africa. Its fruit has a inhibitors, gypsogenin, hydroxytryptamines, distinguishing bitter taste, which is more pronounced karounidiols, lanosterol, lauric acid, linoleic acid, as it ripens, hence the name bitter melon or bitter linolenic acid, momorcharasides, momorcharins, gourd. momordenol, momordicilin, momordicin, Diabetes mellitus is well known clinical entity momordicinin, momordicosides, momordin, with various late complications like retinopathy, momordolo, multiflorenol, myristic acid. [16] neuropathy, nephropathy, etc. M.charantia has The major compounds that have been isolated from significant antidiabetic as well as hypolipidemic bitter melon and identified as hypoglycemic agents activity so that it can be used as an adjuvant along include charantin, polypeptide-p and vicine. with allopathic treatment of medicine to treat Charantin- diabetes as well as to delay the late complications of diabetes. Charantin is a typical cucurbitane-type triterpenoid in M. charantia and is a potential substance with The Profile of M.Charantia (Karela) antidiabetic properties. [17] Plant description Polypeptide-p M. Charantia (bitter melon or bitter gourd) is Bitter melon is one of the most commonly used a flowering vine in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is a vegetable that contains polypeptide-p and is used to IJAPR | January 2018 | Vol 6 | Issue 1 51 Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2018;6(1):50-54 control diabetes naturally. Polypeptide-p or p-insulin plants that has been investigated thoroughly for the is an insulin-like hypoglycemic protein, shown to treatment of diabetes. With the traditional use lower blood glucose levels in gerbils, langurs and supported by modern scientific evidence of the humans when injected subcutaneously. [18] beneficial function of M. charantia, it is one of the Vicine most promising plants for diabetes today. [24] The other major compound that has been isolated Investigation of the