Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacological Activities of Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd)

Abstract

Momordica charantia L. (bitter gourd, bitter melon) is a tropical Cucurbitaceae vine widely used as a vegetable and traditional remedy. This review summarizes its taxonomy, morphology, and distribution, as well as the latest evidence on its phytochemical constituents and bioactivities. Bitter melon contains diverse bioactive compounds, notably cucurbitane-type triterpenoids (cucurbitacins and related momordicosides), steroidal glycosides (charantin), flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, proteins (e.g. plant insulin, ribosome-inactivating proteins), and polysaccharides. These constituents underlie multiple pharmacological effects. Recent studies (2018–2025) show that bitter melon extracts and isolated compounds exert antidiabetic effects (via enhancing insulin signaling, AMPK activation, GLUT4 translocation), anticancer effects (cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction), antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects (scavenging free radicals, inhibiting NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines), antimicrobial effects (inhibiting bacteria, fungi, viruses) and hepatoprotective effects (attenuating toxin-induced liver injury). Key findings include in vitro and animal models: for example, bitter melon-derived vesicle extracts inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in 4T1 breast cancer cells, while a triterpenoid-enriched leaf extract ameliorated CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. Major compounds such as momordicine I have been shown to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells and suppress NF-κB–mediated inflammation. This comprehensive review integrates recent (last 5–7 years) peer-reviewed evidence on M. charantia, highlighting its phytochemistry and therapeutic potential.