Study of Nephroprotective and Normoelectrolytic Effect of a Novel Hypoglycemic Active Principle from the Seeds of Momordica charantia L. (Bitter gourd) in Experimental Diabetes
Abstract: Background: Plants with medicinal properties, the gift of Mother Nature to mankind, are in use for centuries in the indigenous system of medicine (Ayurveda, Unani etc.) in India and other countries for the treatment of several diseases including diabetes mellitus. Since ancient time Momordica charantia L. (bitter gourd) the fruit-vegetable, fruit pulp, flower, leaves and seeds have been used in complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and some of its late complications. The present study examines glycemic control and changes in renal panel markers and certain renal risk indicators observed with a novel hypoglycemic active principle (MCK3P8) purified from a fraction of the acid-ethanolic extract MCK3 from the seeds of bitter gourd in alloxan-induced experimental diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: MCK3P8 purified from a fraction of the acid-ethanolic fraction MCK3 of the seed extract of bitter gourd (14 ml containing 196 mg of proteins) by gel fitration column chromatography. This hypoglycemic active principle and the protamine zinc insulin were given by intraperitonial injection to alloxan-induced male wistar diabetic rats at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight of experimental animals for 20 days. Hypoglycemic activities and the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), kidney function test (KFT) markers, electrolytes, water intake, diet intake, urine volume, urine sugar, kidney weight and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were studied in control, insulin, fraction MCK3, MCK3P8 treated alloxan-induced diabetic rats by measuring the blood glucose level enzymatically as well as serum levels of renal panel markers and certain renal risk indicators determined by drawing blood from the tail vein during the study period of 20 days. Results: Results of the present study unveiled that MCK3P8-the hypoglycemic active principle of bitter gourd seeds when given intraperitoneally at a dose of 15 mg/ kg b. wt. exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity by 3 hours after administration in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Loss of hyperglycemic activity upon proteinase-K treatment indicates that MCK3P8 is proteinaceous in nature. Present study also indicates that treatment with MCK3P8-the hypoglycemic active principle of bitter gourd seeds have significantly reduced the blood urea and serum levels of creatinine, water intake, diet intake, urine volume, urine sugar, kidney weight, highly sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) glomerular filtration rate along with significant elevation of sodium, potassium, chloride at 3 hour after treatment in type-1 diabetic rats. Conclusion: The results of the current study clearly provided experimental evidence of normoglycemic, nephroprotective and normoelectrolytic effect of novel hypoglycemic active principle (MCK3P8) of bitter gourd seeds. MCK3P8 exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity and significantly influenced the levels of renal panel markers and certain renal risk indicators by improving glycemic status and is able to alleviate kidney damage and electrolytic imbalance in alloxan-induced experimental diabetic rats when compared with corresponding levels in controls at the end of study period.
Keywords: Bitter gourd, Novel hypoglycemic principle, Glycemic status, Renal risk indicators, Electrolytic imbalance, Alloxan, Diabetes
How to Cite?: Zamiruddin Ansari, Shailesh Kumar Choudhary, "Study of Nephroprotective and Normoelectrolytic Effect of a Novel Hypoglycemic Active Principle from the Seeds of Momordica charantia L. (Bitter gourd) in Experimental Diabetes", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1472-1478, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26922210948, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26922210948