Effect of bitter gourd juice on glucose level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: an experimental study

Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon, contains a variety of phytochemicals, including alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids. This study investigates the effect of bitter gourd juice on glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, providing nutritional composition, phytochemical profiling, and anti-diabetic efficacy. Trials were structured as open-label, double-arm studies lasting 60 days. Clinical assessments were performed weekly, and longitudinal data were collected throughout the study. A total of 15 rats were divided into three groups of five. One group served as the control (T1), whereas the other two groups (T2 and T3) were fed a functional diet containing different levels of bitter gourd (30% and 50%, respectively). The administration of 30% and 50% bitter gourd juice significantly reduced glucose levels in diabetic rats, with the 50% group exhibiting a 50% decrease. After seven weeks, glucose levels were 197.4 ± 14.32 mg/dL for the control group, 107 ± 4.69 mg/dL for the 30% group, and 85.6 ± 4.82 mg/dL for the 50% group (p < 0.001). HbA1c levels also decreased, measuring 6.7 ± 0.16 in the control, 5.46 ± 0.23 in the 30% group, and 4.6 ± 0.22 in the 50% group, highlighting the efficacy of bitter gourd treatment in lowering glycemic levels. The findings suggest that bitter gourd may be an effective treatment for diabetes due to its high levels of beneficial phytochemicals.