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Purpose: This study was aimed to prove the fruit extract of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) towards blood sugar levels, of Langerhans islets cells, and Leydig cells of hyperglycemic white mice (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: Twenty-five mice were divided randomly into 5 groups. They all were induced intraperitoneally by alloxan with dosage of 150 mg/kg in order to damage to the pancreas. From all treatments group, three groups (P1, P2, and P3) were treated with various doses of bitter melon extract with dosage 29, 50, and 59 mg/1 ml/day, respectively. As a comparative group, -negative control group (P0 +) were given with CMC-Na 0,5% 1ml/day, whereas the positive control group (K+) were given Glibenclamide® 0.126 mg/1 ml/day. Bitter melon extract was given for 21 days. In the first day of treatment, blood glucose level of mice was examined after 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours after treatments. The blood glucose examinations were subsequently continued at days 7th, 14th and 21st after treatment. After 21 days, the pancreas and testes of mice were taken for histopathological preparations made. Results: Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) extract had antidiabetic effects that can lower blood glucose level, improved pancreatic beta cell damage, and increased the Leydig cells number in a dosage of 50 mg/1 ml/day on the 21st days after treatment. Conclusion: the extract of bitter melon fruit (Momordica charantia L.) at a dosage of 50 mg/kg/1ml/day can lower blood glucose levels and increased the number of Langerhans islets and Leydig cell of hyperglycemia mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is something that is usual for most Indonesian society, especially adult males. According to Riskesdas, smoking behavior of the population trends to increase. A previous study suggested that exposure to cigarette smoke produce CO bond to hemoglobin. Melon (Cucumis melo) contains antioxidants that prevent tissue damage. Objective: Analyze differences in levels HbCO Wistar male rats in treated and untreated extracts of melon. Method: The research was a laboratory experiment with the post test control group design and complete random design. The subjects were 25 male Wistar rats aged 3 months. Subjects were divided into 5 groups and each group received treatment for 28 days. Data of level HbCO was collected and analyzed by Anova One Way test at 95% confidence level. Results: The results showed a difference between the average levels of HbCO male Wistar rats (p value=0,000) treated and untreated extracts of melon. Conclusion: Melon extracts effect on decreasing the levels of HbCO due to exposure to cigarette smoke. There were differences in levels of male Wistar rats HbCO on treated and untreated extracts of melon and be given at a dose of 250 IU/day.

A polyphenolic extract from melon (Cucumis melo L.), as a potential source of natural antioxidants, has been reported to have a positive effect on osteoblast activity. In this study, the protective effects of heat-treated melon extract (ECO-A) on bone strength, mineralization, and metabolism were examined in osteoporotic rat models. Osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in female rats and then maintained for 8 weeks, along with the ingestion of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, OVXP) or ECO-A (OVXE) for an additional 4 weeks. At a pre-determined timepoint, bone strengths, as well as bone mineral contents (BMC) and the density (BMD) of femurs and/or lumbar spines extracted from each animal, were measured by a mechanical test and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Moreover, several biochemical markers for bone turnover were analyzed by respective colorimetric assay kits in addition to clinical analyses. The maximum load and stiffness of femurs from the OVXE group were found to be significantly higher than the other groups. Furthermore, the OVXE group showed significantly higher BMC, BMD, and bone volume than the OVX and OVXP groups, which were comparable to the non-OVX (sham) group. The levels of bone formation and resorption markers in the OVXE group were similar to the sham group, but significantly different from other groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that ECO-A can play potentially positive roles in the protection of bone loss in rats with OVX-induced osteoporosis.

Abstract: Background and aims: Oxidative stress has been involved in the early steps of atherosclerosis and previous studies on hypercholesterolemic hamsters have shown that non-enzymatic antioxidant could prevent fatty streak formation. Therefore, we investigated whether a melon juice extract (Extramel®) rich in superoxide dismutase (SOD) would prevent the development of early atherosclerosis. Methods and results: The effects of Extramel® on plasma cholesterol, aortic fatty streak formation, hepatic steatosis, superoxide anion tissue production and NAD(P)H oxidase expression were studied in hamsters fed with an atherogenic diet (HF), receiving by gavage either water or Extramel® at 0.7, 2.8 or 5.6mg/d. After 12 weeks of oral administration, Extramel® lowered plasma cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol and induced blood and liver SOD activities. It also strongly reduced the area of aortic fatty streak by 49–85%, cardiac (45%) and liver (67%) production of superoxide anion and liver p22phox subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase expression by 66%, and attenuated the development of hepatic steatosis. Conclusion: These findings support the view that chronic consumption of melon juice extract rich in SOD has potential beneficial effects with respect to the development of atherosclerosis and liver steatosis, emphasizing its use as potential dietary therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A polyphenolic extract from melon (Cucumis melo L.), as a potential source of natural antioxidants, has been reported to have a positive effect on osteoblast activity. In this study, the protective effects of heat-treated melon extract (ECO-A) on bone strength, mineralization, and metabolism were examined in osteoporotic rat models. Osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in female rats and then maintained for 8 weeks, along with the ingestion of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, OVXP) or ECO-A (OVXE) for an additional 4 weeks. At a pre-determined timepoint, bone strengths, as well as bone mineral contents (BMC) and the density (BMD) of femurs and/or lumbar spines extracted from each animal, were measured by a mechanical test and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Moreover, several biochemical markers for bone turnover were analyzed by respective colorimetric assay kits in addition to clinical analyses. The maximum load and stiffness of femurs from the OVXE group were found to be significantly higher than the other groups. Furthermore, the OVXE group showed significantly higher BMC, BMD, and bone volume than the OVX and OVXP groups, which were comparable to the non-OVX (sham) group. The levels of bone formation and resorption markers in the OVXE group were similar to the sham group, but significantly different from other groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that ECO-A can play potentially positive roles in the protection of bone loss in rats with OVX-induced osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]