International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology
Volume 15, Issue 3

Evaluating the Activity of Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) Fruit and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) Rhizome Extract as Anti-Hyperlipidemic Agents in Experimental Animals

Marwan I. Al-Zuhairi1,2*, Ashok K. Shakya1,3, Nawfal A. Numan1,4, Sadeq Jaafer Al-Tameemi2, Mohammed Bashar Al-Qazzan2 

1Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman 19328, Jordan

2College of Pharmacy, Bilad Alrafidain University, Diyala, Iraq

3Michael Sayegh Faculty of Pharmacy, Aqaba University of Technology, Aqaba, 11191, Jordan

4College of Pharmacy, The University of Mashreq, Baghdad, Iraq 

Received: 15th Feb, 2025; Revised: 26th Mar, 2025; Accepted: 20th Aug, 2025; Available Online: 25th Sep, 2025  

ABSTRACT

Hyperlipidemia may lead to a defect of blood vessels that raises the risk of atherosclerotic disease. The heightened prevalence of atherosclerosis is often linked to higher blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels.

Objectives: To study the effects of extended consumption of dietary bitter gourd and turmeric extract on Triton WR 1339-induced hyperlipidemia in rats.

Methods: Albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups (6 rats/group) and fed specific diets for 21 days: ad libitum control (A), atorvastatin (B; 10 mg/kg body weight), turmeric extract (C; 150 mg/kg body weight), bitter gourd extract (D; 150 mg/kg body weight), and paired-fed extract (E; 150 mg/kg body weight each extract).

Results: Turmeric and bitter gourd extracts significantly reduce alanine transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol (p<0.05) compared to atorvastatin, potentially improving liver enzyme levels through antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Bitter gourd; Momordica charantia ; Turmeric; Curcuma longa; Hyperlipidemia.

How to cite this article: Marwan I. Al-Zuhairi, Ashok K. Shakya, Nawfal A. Numan, Sadeq Jaafer Al-Tameemi, Mohammed Bashar Al-Qazzan. Evaluation of the Activity of Momordica charantia  (Bitter Gourd) Fruit and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) Rhizome Extract as Anti-Hyperlipidemic Agents in Experimental Animals. International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology. 2025;15(3): 1101-08. doi:10.25258/ijddt.15.3.27

REFERENCE

  1. Lloyd-Jones DM, Morris PB, Ballantyne CM, Birtcher KK, Daly DD, DePalma SM, Minissian MB, Orringer CE, Smith SC. Focused update of the 2016 ACC expert consensus decision pathway on the role of non-statin therapies for LDL-cholesterol lowering in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk: A report of the American College of Cardiology task force on expert consensus decision pathways. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017;70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2017.07.745:1785-1822.
  2. Kocaadam B, Şanlier N. Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2017;57. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2015.1077195:2889-2895.
  3. Hyre AD, Krousel-Wood MA, Muntner P, Kawasaki L, DeSalvo KB. Prevalence and predictors of poor antihypertensive medication adherence in an urban health clinic setting. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2007;9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-6175.2007.06372.x:179-186.
  4. Luca SV, Macovei I, Bujor A, Miron A, Skalicka-Woźniak K, Aprotosoaie AC, Trifan A. Bioactivity of dietary polyphenols: The role of metabolites. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2020;60. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1546669:626-659.
  5. Aggarwal BB. Targeting inflammation-induced obesity and metabolic diseases by curcumin and other nutraceuticals. Annu Rev Nutr 2010;30:173-199.
  6. Jaafer Al-Tameemi S. Inhibition of the growth of E. coli and candida by silver COMPLEXE (I) With Ligands. European Science Methodical Journal 2024;2:35-41.
  7. Feng W, Wang H, Zhang P, Gao C, Tao J, Ge Z, Zhu D, Bi Y. Modulation of gut microbiota contributes to curcumin-mediated attenuation of hepatic steatosis in rats. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017;1861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.03.017:1801-1812.
  8. Al-Akeedi M, Najdawi M, Al-Balas Q, Al-Qazzan MB, Telfah ST. Novel anthraquinone amide derivatives as potential Glyoxalase-I inhibitors. J Med Life 2024;17. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2023-0257:87-98.
  9. Krawinkel MB, Keding GB. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia ): A dietary approach to hyperglycemia. Nutr Rev 2006;64. https://doi.org/10.1301/nr.2006.jul.331-337:331-337.
  10. Saad DY, Soliman MM, Baiomy AA, Yassin MH, El-Sawy HB. Effects of Karela (Bitter Melon; Momordica charantia ) on genes of lipids and carbohydrates metabolism in experimental hypercholesterolemia: Biochemical, molecular and histopathological study. BMC Complement Altern Med 2017;17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1833-x:319.
  11. Hassan KH, Al-hussaniy HA, Ibraim Oraibi A, Bashar Al-Qazzan M, Zainee HY, Al-Jashamy K, Imad Hussein M. Thermodynamic and Kinetic Assessment of Cobalt II Adsorption Using Green Synthesized NiO/γ-Al2O3 Nanoparticles. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología - Serie de Conferencias 2025;4:1167. https://doi.org/10.56294/sctconf20251167.
  12. Morton JF. Plant resources of South-East Asia 6. Econ Bot 1995;49. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862341:248-248.
  13. Al-Zuhairi MI, Al-Tameemi SJ, Yasin YS. Physiological Scrutiny about the Hematological effects of resveratrol as compared with some statins in Rats n.d. DOI. https://doi.org/https://iarconsortium.org/srjp/publications?author=13494#.
  14. Wang C-Y, Liu P-Y, Liao JK. Pleiotropic effects of statin therapy: Molecular mechanisms and clinical results. Trends Mol Med 2008;14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2007.11.004:37-44.
  15. Hashim WS, Yasin YS, Jumaa AH, Al-Zuhairi MI, Abdulkareem AH. Physiological scrutiny to appraise a flavonol versus statins. Biomed Pharmacol J 2023;16. https://doi.org/10.13005/bpj/2610:289-293.
  16. Rallidis LS, Fountoulaki K, Anastasiou-Nana M. Managing the underestimated risk of statin-associated myopathy. Int J Cardiol 2012;159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.07.048:169-176.
  17. Bone loss and inhaled glucocorticoids. N Engl J Med 2002;346. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200202143460716:533-535.
  18. Fuster V. A new perspective on nonprescription statins: An opportunity for patient education and involvement. Am J Cardiol 2007;100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.06.009:907-910.
  19. Kapoor JR. Effect of combination angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin receptor blocker therapy on heart failure mortality and morbidity. Am J Cardiol 2008;101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.10.013:744-745.
  20. Guyton JR, Bays HE, Grundy SM, Jacobson TA, The National Lipid Association Statin Intolerance Panel. An assessment by the statin intolerance panel: 2014 update. J Clin Lipidol 2014;8 (Supplement). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2014.03.002:S72-S81.
  21. Keen HI, Krishnarajah J, Bates TR, Watts GF. Statin myopathy: The fly in the ointment for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the 21st century? Expert Opin Drug Saf 2014;13. https://doi.org/10.1517/14740338.2014.937422:1227-1239.
  22. Muntean DM, Thompson PD, Catapano AL, Stasiolek M, Fabis J, Muntner P, Serban M-C, Banach M. Statin-associated myopathy and the quest for biomarkers: Can we effectively predict statin-associated muscle symptoms? Drug Discov Today 2017;22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2016.09.001:85-96.
  23. Banach M, Rizzo M, Toth PP, Farnier M, Davidson MH, Al-Rasadi K, Aronow WS, Athyros V, Djuric DM, Ezhov MV, Greenfield RS, Hovingh GK, Kostner K, Serban C, Lighezan D, Fras Z, Moriarty PM, Muntner P, Goudev A, Ceska R, Nicholls SJ, Broncel M, Nikolic D, Pella D, Puri R, Rysz J, Wong ND, Bajnok L, Jones SR, Ray KK, Mikhailidis DP. Statin intolerance—An attempt at a unified definition. Position paper from an International Lipid Expert Panel. Arch Med Sci 2015;11. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2015.49807:1-23.
  24. Parwin A, Najmi AK, Ismail MV, Kaundal M, Akhtar M. Protective effects of alendronate in Triton X-100-induced hyperlipidemia in rats. Turk J Gastroenterol 2019;30. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2019.18076:557-564.
  25. Tulini FL, Souza VB, Thomazini M, Silva MP, Massarioli AP, Alencar SM, Pallone EMJA, Genovese MI, Favaro-Trindade CS. Evaluation of the release profile, stability and antioxidant activity of a proanthocyanidin-rich cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) extract co-encapsulated with α-tocopherol by spray chilling. Food Res Int 2017;95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.03.010:117-124.
  26. Khalaf NA, Shakya AK, Al-Othman A, El-Agbar Z, Farah H. Antioxidant activity of some common plants. Turk J Biol 2008;32.
  27. Fernandes NPC, Lagishetty CV, Panda VS, Naik SR. An experimental evaluation of the antidiabetic and antilipidemic properties of a standardized Momordica charantia fruit extract. BMC Complement Altern Med 2007;7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-7-29:29.
  28. Tan SP, Kha TC, Parks SE, Roach PD. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia ) bioactive composition and health benefits: A review. Food Rev Int 2016;32. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2015.1057843:181-202.
  29. Tsai T-H, Huang C-J, Wu W-H, Huang W-C, Chyuan J-H, Tsai P-J. Antioxidant, cell-protective, and anti-melanogenic activities of leaf extracts from wild bitter melon (Momordica charantia var. abbreviata Ser.) cultivars. Bot Stud 2014;55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40529-014-0078-y:78.
  30. Babu PS, Srinivasan K. Hypolipidemic action of curcumin, the active principle of turmeric (Curcuma longa) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Mol Cell Biochem 1997;166. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006819605211:169-175.
  31. Kim M-S, Chun S-S, Choi J-H. Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on antioxidative systems and oxidative damage in rats fed a high fat and cholesterol diet. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr 2013;42. https://doi.org/10.3746/jkfn.2013.42.4.570:570-576.