Bitter Melon is known for the treatment of Diabetes. Here's a study that shows it also may help prevent breast cancer, this article is from ScienceDaily.
Quote:
ScienceDaily (Feb. 23, 2010) � Bitter melon extract, a common dietary supplement, exerts a significant effect against breast cancer cell growth and may eventually become a chemopreventive agent against this form of cancer, according to results of a recent study.
"Our findings suggest that bitter melon extract modulates several signal transduction pathways, which induces breast cancer cell death," said lead researcher Ratna B. Ray, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pathology at Saint Louis University. "This extract can be utilized as a dietary supplement for the prevention of breast cancer."
Results of this study are published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Previous research has shown Momordica charantia, also known as bitter melon, to have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, according to Ray. Because of these effects, the extract is commonly used in folk medicines as a remedy for diabetes in locales such as India, China and Central America, according to the researchers.
Using human breast cancer cells and primary human mammary epithelial cells in vitro, Ray and colleagues found the mechanism of bitter melon extract significantly decreased proliferation, that is, cell growth and division, and induced death in breast cancer cells. These early results offer an encouraging path for research into breast cancer.
"Breast cancer is a major killer among women around the world, and in that perspective, results from this study are quite significant," said Rajesh Agarwal, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado, Denver School of Pharmacy. "This study may provide us with one more agent as an extract that could be used against breast cancer if additional studies hold true."
According to Agarwal, the Cancer Research associate editor for this study, the simple study design, clear-cut results and the overall importance of these findings in breast cancer prevention makes this research different from previous research.
However, he stressed that "this study is only a step towards establishing the cancer preventive efficacy of bitter melon against breast cancer." Additional studies are needed to further understand the molecular targets of bitter melon extract in cancer cells, as well as for establishing its in vivo efficacy.
Agarwal gave a note of caution, stating that while these results do provide hope as an anti-cancer agent, it is important to establish the validity of these results in animal models before adding them to one's diet to inhibit breast cancer cell growth.
Ray and colleagues are currently conducting follow-up studies using a number of cancer cell lines to examine the anti-proliferative effect of the extract. They are also planning a preclinical trial to evaluate its chemopreventive efficacy by oral administration.
Bitter melon extract is cultivated in Asia, Africa and South America. Extract of this vegetable is being popularized as a dietary supplement in Western Countries, since it is known to contain additional glycosides such as mormordin, vitamin C, carotenoids, flavanoids and polyphenols.
__________________ "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~
WOW. I first heard about bitter melon 20 yrs ago. I never had it yet. It is big in indian and soem asian cooking and supposedly has tons of health benefits
kind2creatures, do you have the link for this article? Its good to put links in your post if you have them. Thanks
__________________ "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, - receptive to Truth and Love" Mary Baker Eddy
Visit www.HealthSalon.org
The first time I heard of bitter melon was an Indian porfessor was telling me around 89-90 that bitter melon extract killed the aids virus in test tube studes.
WOW. I first heard about bitter melon 20 yrs ago. I never had it yet. It is big in indian and soem asian cooking and supposedly has tons of health benefits
Saved 1986, I've seen it fresh at a Korean supermarket, but I haven't tasted it. I have an opened bottle of the supplement at home though. I bought it when my blood glucose test results were slowly climbing. I wasn't pre-diabetic, but I was ready to arm myself if there was a problem. I took it twice a week, just for a short time. As I re-tested, the numbers went down, and I felt there was no need to take it.
I gave a bottle to a relative that has diabetes, and is on medication. She tried it, and did say that it lowered her blood sugar levels, but preferred to stay on her prescription meds instead.
Enjoy your vacation!
__________________ "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~
Blood sugar levels. I'm really not aware of bitter melon. Have not tried it. If it is like juniper berries, I would say beware if you do have low blood sugar already.
I was drinking a tea of juniper berries to try to avoid and get rid of "cedar fever" which affects most people in central TX when the mountain cedars (juniper) eject their pollen. That was a mistake for me. Hypoglycemic attack. Ugly. Nearly passed out.
I did not know that about juniper berries. Now I know to always use them with food or drink while eating.
Bitter Melon May Prevent Breast Cancer
Linear Mode
