International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 5 authors, 3 centres
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The main finding is that various compounds (e.g., polysaccharides, flavonoids) show antidiabetic and neuroprotective properties in preclinical studies, but the most important limitation is the lack of robust human clinical trials to establish efficacy and safety.
The review synthesizes preclinical evidence from cell and animal models, focusing on bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, proteins (e.g., polypeptide-p), saponins (e.g., charantin), and flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, rutin). These compounds are reported to exhibit antidiabetic effects such as lowering blood glucose, improving insulin sensitivity, and protecting β-cells, as well as neuroprotective effects like reducing amyloid-β accumulation and oxidative stress. Key results are derived from in vitro and in vivo studies, with no human clinical data presented. The review emphasizes that while the mechanisms are promising, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, lack of controls, and poor study designs in preclinical research. A major limitation is the absence of well-designed clinical trials to confirm efficacy and safety in humans. The implications suggest that bitter melon could be a cost-effective complementary therapy, but further clinical research is essential to validate its therapeutic potential for T2DM and AD.
