Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Momordica charantia L. (bitter gourd or karela) is widely consumed as a vegetable and therapeutic agent in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Traditionally employed in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and folk healing systems for the treatment of diabetes and infections, bitter gourd has attracted growing scientific interest for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These effects are mediated by a broad spectrum of phytochemicals including cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, and peptides. In human studies, bitter gourd supplementation has been associated with modulation of biochemical markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10).
This paper reviews available clinical and interventional studies to analyze how bitter gourd influences antioxidant enzyme activity and inflammatory cytokine regulation in humans. Evidence indicates that supplementation with juice, extracts, or capsules of M. charantia enhances endogenous antioxidant defenses, reduces lipid peroxidation, and lowers systemic inflammation. Although findings are promising, variability in sample sizes, study duration, extract standardization, and biomarker selection limits the strength of conclusions. Future clinical trials with rigorous methodology and comprehensive biomarker panels are needed to establish bitter gourd as a scientifically validated nutraceutical for oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders.