• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.597-604
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• 2020

This study examined the bioactive compound content and the antioxidant activities of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn.) leaves. The content of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and total carotenoids was 69.77, 45.68, and 65.08 mg/100 g, respectively. To investigate the antioxidant capacity, bitter melon leaves were extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (60, 80, or 100%). Highest content of total polyphenols (18.07 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and flavonoids (4.53 mg cathechin equivalent/g) was found in the 100% ethanolic extract of the leaves (E100). Also, the E100 extract showed the highest levels of 2,2'azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and α-α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities. Reducing power was also the highest (39.21 mg Trolox equivalent/g) in E100 extract. The E100 extract effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation by 91.45% compared to the control group. Also, the E100 extract showed a cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells and decreased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that bitter melon leaves could be regarded as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.286-289
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• 2013

Phytochemical constituents were isolated from bitter melon (the fruits of Momordica charantia) through open column chromatography. Their structures were identified as ${\beta}$-sitosterol (1), (23E)-$5{\beta}$,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-$3{\beta}$,25-diol (2), daucosterol (3), uracil (4), and allantoin (5) by interpretation of spectroscopic analysis including MS and $^1H$- & $^{13}C$-NMR. Among them, allantoin (5) was isolated from this plant for the first time.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.176-182
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• 2017

This study evaluated th physicochemical and sensory characteristics of teriyaki sauce added with bitter melon (Momoridaica charantia L.) roasting powder. Teriyaki sauce containing Momoridaica charantia L. roasting powder at concentration of 0% (control), 2% (RMT2), 4% (RMT4), 6% (RMT6), 8% (RMT8). Color of teriyaki sauce added with Momoridaica charantia L. roasting powder were lower than the control. The pH of the sauce ranged from $4.31{\pm}0.01{\sim}4.87{\pm}0.01$. As the amount of added Momoridaica charantia L. roasting powder was increased, total soluble solid content and viscosity of teriyaki sauce increased. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of Momoridaica charantia L. added teriyaki sauce increased. The sensory evaluation was performed with scoring test s for color, flavor, taste, bitter taste, and overall acceptability by 50 professional panelists. In sensory evaluation, teriyaki sauce added with 4% Momoridaica charantia L. roasting powder concentrate high score in sensory preference. Based on the results, 4% should be recommended as the optimum level of Momoridaica charantia L. roasting powder concentrate to be added for the preparation of teriyaki sauce.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2017

Present study aimed to determine the effect of 'bitter melon', a popularly used fruit in Bangladesh and several other Asian countries, on high-fat-diet-induced type 2 diabetes. To investigate the effect, ethanol extract from bitter melon (BME) as a dietary supplement with mouse chow was used. BME was found to significantly attenuate the high-fat diet (HFD) -induced body weight and total fat mass. BME also effectively reduced the insulin resistance induced by the HFD. Furthermore, dietary supplementation of BME was highly effective in increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing hepatic fat and obesity. These results indicate that BME could be effective in attenuating type 2 diabetes and could therefore be a preventive measure against type 2 diabetes.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.408-415
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) cultivated from different regions, with different harvest times and at various maturation stages. Methods for observing the changes in GABA content were validated by determining the specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and precision and accuracy using the HPLC-FLD system. Results showed high linearity in the calibration curve with a coefficient of correlation ($R^2$) of 0.9999. The LOD and LOQ values for GABA were 0.29 and $0.87{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day precision of GABA were less than 5%. The recovery rate of GABA was in the range of 98.77% to 100.50%. The average content of GABA was 0.93 mg/g and Cheongju showed highest GABA content of 1.88 mg/g. As the time of harvest increased from May to September, the GABA content decreased from 1.56 to 0.86 mg/g. Also, maturation of the bitter melon fruit was associated with a decreased in GABA content.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2019

In many cases, obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. Recently, natural compounds that may be beneficial for improving obesity have received increasing attention. Bitter melon has received attention as a diabetes treatment. $NAD^+$-dependent deacetylase (Sirtuin 1, SIRT1) has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. In this study, ethanol extract of bitter melon (BME) suppressed adipocyte differentiation and significantly increased the expression of SIRT1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, it enhanced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In high-fat diet (HFD)-fed induced-obesity mice, BME suppressed HFD-induced increases in body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight. BME also increased the expression of SIRT1 and suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 expressions of WAT from HFD-fed mice. These findings suggest that BME prevents obesity by activating the SIRT1 and AMPK pathway and that it may be a useful dietary supplement for preventing obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.401-411
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• 2015

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) has various biological functions, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant activities. However, the development of foods using bitter melon (BM) is unexplored due to its bitter taste. In this study, BM pickle was prepared, and changes in quality characteristics and antioxidant activity during ageing were determined. After 4 weeks of ageing, pH levels, salinities, soluble solids, and reducing sugars of BM pickle decreased, whereas acidities increased. In addition, total viable, lactic acid bacteria, and yeast viable cell numbers greatly increased until 1 week, after which they slightly decreased. Levels of soluble phenolics increased during ageing, antioxidant activity increased accordingly. Crude protein, K, and P contents of pickles were lower than in raw material of BM, whereas crude fat and Na contents increased. Corn silk extracts were added to BM pickle during ageing in order to improve the bitter taste and flavor. The best sensory quality was obtained by adding 0.25% corn silk extracts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.903-909
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• 2017

This study was conducted to develop Helianthus tuberosus (HT) juice mixed with dried bitter melon juice and assess its hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. HT juice mixed with 5.0% dried bitter melon juice was used in this study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (eight rats per group) and drunk each sample for 4 weeks: normal water [normal control (NC) group], STZ+normal water (STZ group), STZ+HT juice (HT group), STZ+HT juice mixed with 2.5% bitter melon juice (HT2.5 group), and STZ+HT juice mixed with 5.0% bitter melon juice (HT5.0 group). HT juice was diluted to 25% in distilled water and supplied to rats. Food intake, body weight gain, and food efficiency ratio were lower in the STZ group than in the NC group. HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 groups showed higher parameters than the STZ groups. Water intakes were higher in the STZ group than in the NC group. After 3 weeks, HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 groups showed lower parameters than the STZ group. After 1 week, blood glucose level of the STZ group ($476.7{\pm}22.8mg/dL$) was significantly higher than those of the HT group ($376.3{\pm}25.8mg/dL$), HT2.5 group ($405.2{\pm}35.1mg/dL$), and HT5.0 group ($342.8{\pm}29.7mg/dL$). After 4 weeks, blood glucose level of the STZ group were significantly higher than those of the HT, HT2.5, and HT5.0 group. Serum insulin levels of the HT group ($3.13{\pm}0.32ng/mL$), HT2.5 group ($3.40{\pm}0.23ng/mL$), and HT5.0 group ($3.48{\pm}0.43ng/mL$) were higher than that of the STZ group ($2.72{\pm}0.53ng/mL$). These results indicate that H. tuberosus juice mixed with dried bitter melon juice helps prevent or attenuate progression of diabetes in rats with STZ-induced diabetes.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.452-458
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• 2023

In the Goesan region, located in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea, a significant outbreak of soft rot infections was documented in August 2021, affecting fruits of Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd. The symptoms included a noticeable transition to yellowing in the affected fruits, eventually leading to their collapse. The bacterial strain KNUB-09-21 was isolated from the diseased fruits. Molecular analysis, using the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and three housekeeping genes (dnaX, recA, and leuS), along with the results of compound utilization in the API ID 32 GN system, provide strong evidence for the identification of the isolate KNUB-09-21 as Pectobacterium brasiliense. The pathogenicity of strain KNUB-09-21 on M. charantia was confirmed through a controlled inoculation test. Within two days, inoculated fruits displayed soft rot symptoms closely resembling those observed in naturally affected fruits. This is the first report of soft rot on M. charantia in Korea.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.462-463
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• 2011