Bitter melon grows in tropical areas, including parts of East Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. For centuries, Bitter Melon has been used as both a food and medicine throughout Asia as a therapeutic remedy in a variety of illnesses such as leukemia, diabetes, asthma, insect bites, menstrual cycle problems, stomach problems, as well as many other maladies. Recent studies have found anti-HIV properties.

Over the years, scientists have verified many of the traditional uses of this bitter plant that continues to be an important natural remedy in the natural health practitioner’s medicine chest.

The anti-cancer property is due in part to an enhancement of immune function. Study has shown that bitter melon extracts suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage and lymphocyte activity. All of these cells having immune function.

The results of a recent study demonstrate that another function of bitter melon is the inhibition of a P-gp protein. The P-gp protein functions as a carrier of drugs out of a cell. It is believed to be one reason for eventual drug resistance in cancer cells.

The P-gp inhibitory substance(s) was analyzed and identified to be monopalmitin, a C16 monoglyceride, a close relative of monolaurin, a C12 monoglyceride (Lauricidin®). The results of this study demonstrated that monoglycerides, one of them monolaurin (Lauricidin®), with a variety of hydrocarbon-chain length were inhibitory toward P-gp. One could conclude that some of the biological effects of bitter melon could therefore be due to the monoglycerides, especially monolaurin (Lauricidin®) and other inhibitory compounds.

The modulation of P-gp function by monoglycerides has not previously been reported. This may be another role of Lauricidin® to make cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents. The physiological/ pharma-cological role of monoglycerides should include the modulation of P-gp functions as well as its antimicrobial effects.

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