Bitter Melon Extract Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Growth

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extract, a common dietary supplement, has been show to exert a significant effect against breast cancer cell growth and may ultimately become a chemopreventive agent against this form of cancer.

"Our findings suggest that bitter melon extract modulates several signal transduction pathways, which induces breast cancer cell death,” said lead researcher Ratna B. Ray, Ph.D., a professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University (MO, USA). "This extract can be utilized as a dietary supplement for the prevention of breast cancer.”

Results of this study were published in February 15, 2010, issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Previous research has shown bitter melon, to have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, according to Dr. Ray. Because of these effects, the extract is typically used in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes, in regions such as India, China, and Central America, according to the researchers.

Using human breast cancer cells and primary human mammary epithelial cells in vitro, Dr. Ray and colleagues found the mechanism of bitter melon extract significantly decreased proliferation in cell growth and division, and induced death in breast cancer cells. These early results offer an encouraging path for research into breast cancer.

"Breast cancer is a major killer among women around the world, and in that perspective, results from this study are quite significant,” said Rajesh Agarwal, Ph.D., professor in the department of pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado, Denver School of Pharmacy (USA). "This study may provide us with one more agent as an extract that could be used against breast cancer if additional studies hold true.”

According to Dr. Agarwal, the Cancer Research associate editor for this study, the simple study design, clear-cut results, and the overall importance of these findings in breast cancer prevention makes this research different from earlier research. However, he stressed, "This study is only a step towards establishing the cancer preventive efficacy of bitter melon against breast cancer.” Additional research is needed to understand better the molecular targets of bitter melon extract in cancer cells, as well as for establishing its in vivo efficacy. Dr. Agarwal gave a note of caution, stating that while these results do provide hope as an anticancer agent, it is important to establish the validity of these results in animal models before adding them to one's diet to inhibit breast-cancer cell growth.

Dr. Ray and colleagues are currently conducting follow-up studies using a number of cancer cell lines to examine the antiproliferative effect of the extract. They are also planning a preclinical trial to assess its chemopreventive efficacy by oral administration.

Bitter melon extract is cultivated in Asia, Africa, and South America. Extract of this vegetable is being popularized as a dietary supplement in Western Countries, since it is known to contain additional glycosides such as mormordin, vitamin C, carotenoids, flavanoids, and polyphenols.

Related Links:
Saint Louis University
University of Colorado, Denver School of Pharmacy