Product Proposal

Chocolaya

Introduction
Ampalaya also known as momordica charantia is a perennial tropical flowering vine that
grows fleshy wrinkled elongated fruits about 5 cm long, color green in its cultivated form but
yellow when ripe, and has a characteristic bitter taste. Its fruit can be cooked as a vegetable but
it can also be used as herbal medicine or dietary supplement given that it contains over 225
medical components capable of treating various illnesses [1]. More than a thousand herbal
products have been used around the world to treat hyperglycemia or diabetes and one of the
most popular one is M. charantia [2, 3]. However, its appearance and bitterness make it
unappealing for consumption to some people. It is therefore proposed that M. charantia be
incorporated in a well-known delicacy such a chocolate to improve its palatability or
presentability and therefore increase its consumption. The resulting product will be highly
beneficial for the will not only be delicious but also healthy.

Ampalaya
Momordica Charantia also known as ampalaya, karela, bitter gourd, or bitter melon is a
member of the family cucurbitaceae that has a characteristic bitter taste. It is a perennial tropical
flowering vine that grows fleshy wrinkled elongated fruits about 5 cm long and green in its
cultivated form but yellow when ripe. Its fruit can be used as a herbal medicine or cooked as a
vegetable in a delicious dish. Studies have shown that M. charantia contains many vitamins,
minerals, nutrients and bioactive chemicals constituting to its various biological activities such
as antihyperglycemic, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, immunomodulation, antioxidant,
antidiabetic, anthelmintic, antimutagenic, antiulcer, antilipolytic, antifertility, hepatoprotective,
anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities [4, 5]. Some components
found in its fruit are vitamins C, A, E, B1, B2, B3, and B9 (folate), minerals including potassium,
calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and iron, and bitter compounds such as phenols,
flavonoids, isoflavones, terpenes, anthraquinones, and glucosinolates [6]. There have been
several reported clinical studies on bitter melon extracts from the fruit, seeds, and leaves
containing several bioactive compounds that have hypoglycemic activity in both diabetic animals
and humans [7, 8].

Anti-diabetic effects of ampalaya

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is
abnormally high because the pancreas produces little or no insulin or because the body’s cells
do not respond appropriately to insulin. As of now, there is still no known cure for diabetes but it
can be controlled to prevent the complications that might arise from it. The Philippine
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have released an article emphasizing the anti-
diabetic or hypoglycemic activity of M. charantia particularly against type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) have recently
conducted a study which showed that ampalaya have comparable effect with that of the anti-
diabetes drug glibenclamide [9].
Medicinal plants reported to possess pancreatic β cells regenerating, insulin releasing
and anti-insulin-resistance components exhibit hypoglycemic effects [10]. Hypoglycemic herbs
improve insulin sensitivity, increase insulin secretion, decrease the amount of glucose in the
blood, enhance glucose uptake by adipose or muscle tissues, inhibit glucose absorption from
intestine, and glucose production from liver [11].
The major compounds identified as hypoglycemic among the main component of M.
charantia which are responsible for its antidiabetic effects - triterpene, proteid, steroid, alkaloid,
inorganic, lipid, and phenolic compounds - include charantin, polypeptide-p and vicine but most
studies conducted focused on charantin which is a typical cucurbitane-type triterpenoid [12-15].

Chocolaya

Terms
Hypoglycemic - blood sugar lowering property
Diabetes - high blood sugar level
Ampalaya powder – dry ampalaya “meat” under the sun or inside an oven until it turns brittle,
then ground into powder (use blender).
AMP-activated protein kinase activity -
Beta cells (β cells) - are a type of cell found in the pancreatic islets of the pancreas. The
primary function of a beta cell is to store and release insulin. Insulin is a hormone that brings
about effects which reduce blood glucose concentration. Beta cells can respond quickly to
spikes in blood glucose concentrations by secreting some of their stored insulin while
simultaneously producing more.
momordicine is any of several compounds found the bitter melon vine, Momordica charantia.
They are glycosides of cucurbitane derivatives. They include Momordicine II and Momordicine
IV, 7-O-D-glucopyranosyl-3,23-dihydroxycucurbita-5,24-dien-19-al.
antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical
reaction that can produce free radicals, leading to chain reactions that may damage cells.
adipose tissue, body fat, or simply fat is a loose connective tissue composed mostly of
adipocytes. Adipose tissue is derived from preadipocytes. Its main role is to store energy in the
form of lipids, although it also cushions and insulates the body. adipose tissue is located
beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat), around internal organs (visceral fat), in bone marrow
(yellow bone marrow), intermuscular (Muscular system) and in the breast tissue.
References
[1] Taylor L. Herbal secrets of the rainforest. In: Texas A, editor. Bitter melon (Momordica
charantia) 2nd ed. USA: Sage Press; 2002. pp. 1–100.
[2] Rahman IU, Basir M, Salman M, Idrees M, Khan MI. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia)
reduces serum sialic acid in type 2 diabetics: Evidence to delay the process of
therosclerosis. Chin Med. 2011;2:125–129.
[3] Michael B, Krawinkel MD, Keding GB. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia): A dietary
approach to hyperglycemia. Nutr Rev. 2006;64(7):331–337.
[4] [W1] Jia, S., Shen, M., Zhang, F., & Xie, J. (2017). Recent Advances in Momordica
charantia: Functional Components and Biological Activities. International Journal of
Molecular Sciences, 18(12), 2555. doi:10.3390/ijms18122555
[5] (n.d.). Retrieved April 01, 2018, from http://stuartxchange.org/Ampalaya.html
[6] Bakare RI, Magbagbeola OA, Akinwande AI, Okunowo OW. Nutritional and chemical
evaluation of Momordica charantia. J Med Plant Res. 2010;4(21):2189–2193.
[7] Wehash FE, Abpo-Ghanema II, Saleh RM. Some physiological effects of Momordica
charantia and Trigonella foenum-graecum extracts in diabetic rats as compared with
cidophage® World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. 2012;64:1206–
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[8] Fuangchana A, Sonthisombata P, Seubnukarnb T, Chanouanc R, Chotchaisuwatd P,
Sirigulsatiene V, et al. et al. Hypoglycemic effect of bitter melon compared with
metformin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. J Ethnopharmacol.
2011;134:422–428.
[9] Gonzales, E. G. (n.d.). Ampalaya in the treatment of diabetes. Retrieved April 01, 2018, from
http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/library-health-news/113-ampalaya-in-the-
treatment-of-diabetes
[10] Kavishankar GB, Lakshmidevi N, Murthy SM, Prakash HS, Niranjana SR. Diabetes and
medicinal plants-A review. Int J Pharm Biomed Sci. 2011;2(3):65–80.
[11] Hui H, Tang G, Liang VW, Go VLW. Hypoglycemic herbs and their action mechanisms.
Chin Med. 2009;4:11–14.
[12] Lee SY, Eom SH, Kim YK, Park NI, Park SU. Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids in Momordica
charantia Linn. J Med Plants Res. 2009;3(13):1264–1269.
[13] Chang CI, Chen CR, Liao YW, Cheng HL, Chen YC, Chou CH. Cucurbitane-type
triterpenoids from Momordica charantia. J Nat Prod. 2006;71:1327–1330.
[14] Tan MJ, Ye JM, Turner N, Hohnen-Behrens C, Ke CQ, Tang CP, et al. et al. Antidiabetic
activities of triterpenoids isolated from bitter melon associated with activation of the
AMPK pathway. Chem Biol. 2008;15:263–273.
[15] Krawinkel MB, Keding GB. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia): a dietary approach to
hyperglycemia. Nutr Rev. 2006;64:331–337.