This study examined the bioactive compound content and the antioxidant activities of bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn.) leaves. The content of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and total carotenoids was 69.77, 45.68, and 65.08 mg/100 g, respectively. To investigate the antioxidant capacity, bitter melon leaves were extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (60, 80, or 100%). Highest content of total polyphenols (18.07 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and flavonoids (4.53 mg cathechin equivalent/g) was found in the 100% ethanolic extract of the leaves (E100). Also, the E100 extract showed the highest levels of 2,2'azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and α-α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities. Reducing power was also the highest (39.21 mg Trolox equivalent/g) in E100 extract. The E100 extract effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation by 91.45% compared to the control group. Also, the E100 extract showed a cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells and decreased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that bitter melon leaves could be regarded as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

2017년부터 2019년까지 경남지역 여주(Momordica charantia L.)에서 13종의 해충을 조사하였다. 그 중 목화진딧물(Aphis gossypii Grover), 꽃노랑총채벌레(Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)), 대만총채벌레(Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom)), 목화바둑명나방(Diaphania indica (Sauder)), 담배거세미나방(Spodoptera litura (Fabricius))이 주요 해충이었으며, 중국청람색잎벌레(Chrysochus chinensis Baly), 파밤나방(Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)), 오이총채벌레(Thrips palmi Karny), 갈색날개매미충(Ricania sp.), 톱다리개미허리노린재(Riptortus clavatus Thunberg), 썩덩나무노린 재(Halyomorpha halys (Stål)), 담배장님노린재(Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reut.)), 풀색노린재(Nezara antennata Scott) 등이 일시적으로 발생하는 해충으로 조사되었다. 목화진딧물은 주로 여주의 신초에서 5월 상순부터 발생하기 시작하여 6월 하순까지 발생하며, 5월 하순에 발생최성기를 보였다. 꽃노랑총채벌레와 대만총채벌레는 주로 여주의 꽃에 발생하며 6월 중순에서 하순에 발생최성기를 보였다. 목화바둑명나방은 6월 하순, 담배거세미나방은 8월 하순에서 9월 상순에 발생최성기를 보였다. 여주에 발생하는 주요 해충과 발생소장을 구명하여 예찰 및 방제의 기초자료로 활용하고자 한다.

여주는 열대와 아열대 지역에서 재배되는 1년생 박과 채소로 혈당조절 등의 기능성이 알려지면서 재배면적이 증가하고 있다. 그러나 여주는 자웅동주이화 식물로 인공수분이 필요하고 온도나 일장에 민감하게 반응하는 개화특성 때문에 안정적인 수량 확보가 어려운 경향이 있다. 평균적으로 암꽃과 수꽃의 착생 비율은 1:25 정도이나 생육 초기 단일조건에서는 암꽃 발생이 많아 인공수분이 어렵다. 이 연구는 암꽃 비율이 높아지는 시기에 환경 조건과 관계없이 화분을 안정적으로 공급하고자 화분 활력 및 저장성 검정에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 화분을 채취하여 상온(25℃), 냉장(4℃), 냉동(-20℃), 초저온냉동(-70℃)조건에서 180일간 저장하여 발아율을 조사한 결과, 상온에서는 저장 3일 경과 후 급격히 감소하였고 초저온냉동저장(-70℃)에서 발아율이 30%로 가장 높게 나타났다. 또한, 화분의 활력도 발아율과 같이 저장온도가 낮을수록 높은 경향을 보였으며, 초저온냉동저장(-70℃) 화분은 69%로 개화당일 화분의 74%와 유사한 수준이었다. 저장온도를 달리하여 저장한 화분으로 인공수분한 결과 결실률도 저장온도가 낮을수록 높게 나타났고, 상품과 평균과중은 처리 간에 큰 차이는 없었다. 이는 저장온도가 화분의 생존율과 결실률에 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단되어 여주의 안정적인 수량 확보를 위해서는 효과적인 화분 공급 체계가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

Dietary supplements derived from natural sources are an essential factor in optimizing athletic performance. It has been proposed that the extract of Momordica charantia (M. charantia) that is known as a bitter melon can be potentially used as a novel supplement for health promotion. This pilot study aimed to examine the effects of the M. charantia extract when administered in the form of a sports drink, and we evaluated changes in body composition and metabolic factors in tennis players after 4-week consumption of the extract. Eight male college tennis players were instructed to consume an M. charantia extract 6 times per day (3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, and the total daily intake was 600 ml). Collected data were analyzed using paired t-tests to examine the changes over time after consumption of the M. charantia extract. The results revealed a significant increase in the trunk muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, and daily calorie intake (p < 0.05). Levels of protein, minerals, and total body water showed an increased tendency (not statistically significant), whereas intracellular water and extracellular water showed a decreased trend. Furthermore, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass, and muscle mass showed an increased tendency. In conclusion, consumption of the M. charantia extract caused an increase in parameters related to protein, muscle mass, and metabolism. It seems that follow-up studies related to fatigue, inflammation, and stress hormones related to the M. charantia extract consumption would be needed.

여주(Momordica charantia) 열수 추출물을 젖산균(Leuconostoc mesenteroidesies)으로 발효하여 얻은 생산물의 항산화 및 항당뇨 효과를 관찰하였다. 여주 발효물(MC-LM)과 여주 추출물(MC)의 항산화 활성은 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) radical 소거 측정법을 사용하여 관찰하였다. MC 처리군은 radical 소거활성이 거의 나타나지 않았으나 MC-LM의 경우 500 μg/mL 농도에서 47%의 활성이 관찰되었으며 MC-LM의 농도가 증가함에 따라 활성이 유의하게 (p<0.05) 증가하는 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. MC-LM은 MC에 비해 peroxyl radical에 의한 DNA의 산화적 손상을 더 효과적으로 억제하였으며 MC-LM의 농도가 증가함에 따라 strand breakage의 억제가 유의적으로 증가 하였다(p<0.05). 혈당량과 밀접한 관련이 있는 α-glucosidase의 활성 억제정도를 측정한 결과 MC는 8 mg/mL 농도에서 α-glucosidase의 활성을 30.1% 감소시켰고 같은 농도에서 MC-LM은 58.9% 감소 시켰다. 또한 alloxan에 의한 RIN-m5F 췌장세포 사멸에 발효물의 영향을 관찰한 결과 MC-LM을 농도별로 처리한 군에서 세포생존율이 유의적으로(p<0.05) 증가하였으며 1000 μg/mL 농도에서 MC군 보다 20% 높게 증가되었다. Alloxan에 의한 β-cell파괴를 유도하여 RIN-m5F cell이 분비한 인슐린의 측정결과 MC-LM을 농도별로 첨가한 모든 군에서 인슐린 분비능이 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 1000 μg/mL 농도에서 MC군 보다 15% 높게 증가되었다. 결론적으로 본 연구에서 관찰된 결과들을 통해 여주 발효물은 항산화 및 항당뇨 효과가 있는 것으로 확인되었다.

Momordica charantia is therophyte vine plants. It is called natural insulin and contains carantine and vitamin C and so on. Momordica charantia is one of the representative subtropical crops as a functional crop, showing efficacy on improvement of diabetes, cancer, abdominal obesity and improvement of hypertension. According to climate change, Momordica charantia is growing cultivation area, but there is still insufficient research for insect pest occurrence and insecticides. Due to the lack of proper control measures, the damage caused by insect pests is increasing as the year goes by. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and damage of insect pests in Momordica charantia and utilize it as basic data for development of insect pest control technology. As a result, 5 orders of 13 species of insect pests were investicated. Among them, Aphis gossypii, Frankliniella intonsa, and Frankliniella occidentalis showed high density. In particular, Aphis gossypii showed the highest density in mid-May, also Frankliniella intonsa and Frankliniella occidentalis showed high density in the middle of June. The leaf damage caused by the larvae of Palpita indica was observed in late June. After mid July, the biginning of the high temperature period, the insect pest density decreased, but the damages caused by moths were severe.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) cultivated from different regions, with different harvest times and at various maturation stages. Methods for observing the changes in GABA content were validated by determining the specificity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and precision and accuracy using the HPLC-FLD system. Results showed high linearity in the calibration curve with a coefficient of correlation (R2) of 0.9999. The LOD and LOQ values for GABA were 0.29 and 0.87 μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day precision of GABA were less than 5%. The recovery rate of GABA was in the range of 98.77% to 100.50%. The average content of GABA was 0.93 mg/g and Cheongju showed highest GABA content of 1.88 mg/g. As the time of harvest increased from May to September, the GABA content decreased from 1.56 to 0.86 mg/g. Also, maturation of the bitter melon fruit was associated with a decreased in GABA content.

기후변화에 따른 아열대 도입작물인 여주의 주요 해충 발생 및 피해를 조사하여 방제기술 개발을 위한 기초자료로활용하고자 본 연구를 수행하였다. 조사는 진주 경남농업기술원 시험포장과 함양 농가를 대상으로 2017년 4월에서9월까지 여주에 발생하는 해충의 종류와 발생시기 및 피해정도를 조사하였다. 주요 해충으로는 목화진딧물, 꽃노랑총채벌레, 목화바둑명나방, 중국청람색잎벌레, 온실가루이, 뿌리혹선충 등이 발생하였다. 방제가 요구되는 해충으로목화진딧물은 5월 하순에 가장 높은 밀도를 보였으며, 꽃노랑총채벌레는 6월 중순에 높은 밀도를 보였고, 6월하순에 목화바둑명나방의 유충에 의한 잎의 피해가 심하게 보였으며, 뿌리혹선충에 의한 시들음 증상으로 심하면식물체 전체가 고사하였다. 7월 중순이후부터는 전체적으로 해충의 발생과 밀도가 감소하였다.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is used in traditional herbal medicine in many Asian countries for the treatment of several diseases such as diabetes, eczema, night blindness, psoriasis, and rheumatism. Especially, most reports concerning the biological activities of bitter melon have focused on its effects on diabetes and hyperglycemia. Also, bitter melon is regarded as a longevity food, suggesting that it has several beneficial effects on anti-aging and the maintenance of a healthy state. Thus, we investigated whether bitter melon could increase the capacity of exercise in this study. Interestingly, bitter melon fruit extract activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is important for regulating glucose homeostasis, mitochondrial content and exercise capacity. In addition, bitter melon extract increased the expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation such as mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b (CPT1b), and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 (PDK4). Moreover, exercise tolerance was much more enhanced in bitter melon treated animals compared to the non-treated control group. These results suggest that bitter melon is a promising candidate for the development of functional foods beneficial for physical strength and the enhancement of exercise capacity.

This study aimed to investigate the concentration of vitamin C in Momordica charantia (MC) by cultivar, harvest time, and maturity. The methods for determining vitamin C levels were validated by measuring their linearity, specificity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy using HPLC. Results showed high linearity in the calibration curve, with a coefficient of correlation (R2) of 0.9994. The LOD and LOQ values for vitamin C were 0.05 and 0.16 μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for intra- and inter-day precision of vitamin C measurements were 2.34 and 1.34%, respectively. Depending on cultivar, the concentration of vitamin C in MC varied from 20.75~107.31 mg/100 g, fresh weight, with an average level 68.85±25.57 mg/100 g, FW. When MC was analyzed by harvest time, the 20150612 MC showed the highest amount of vitamin C (113.20±1.89 mg/100 g, FW). On the other hand, the highest vitamin C content by maturity was 48.59±0.87 mg/100 g, FW (15 day old MC). This information on the comparative vitamin C levels of MC might be useful to food scientists and should be explored for functional food development.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects that the difference of planting time by a method of cultivation in the non-heated greenhouse and the open field with spring planting had on growth and yield. With regard to the tested variety of Momordica charantia, variety ‘Dragon’ (Japan Yae 農藝) was selected. And 3 treatments on March 20, April 5 and April 20 for the greenhouse cultivation and 3 treatments on April 20, May 5 and May 20 for the open-field cultivation 1 month later than those for the greenhouse cultivation were planted by the randomized complete block design, and 4 secondary vines were trained. In the results of examining 15-day average atmospheric temperature after planting according to the methods of greenhouse and open-field cultivation and planting time, it was shown that there was a tendency for atmospheric temperature inside the greenhouse to decrease as the planting time was moved up. In particular, the average atmospheric temperature was 16.7oC when seedling was planted on April 20 in the open-field cultivation, which was approximately equal to 17.0oC of the average atmospheric temperature when a seedling was planted on March 20 in the greenhouse cultivation. With regard to the date of first harvest by the method of cultivation, it was shown that there was a tendency for the date of first harvest to be earlier in the greenhouse cultivation than in the open-field cultivation, and the date of first harvest was moved up as a seedling was planted earlier for the planting period. The number and weight of harvested fruits per plant showed a tendency which was almost similar to that of total number of harvest days and number of harvests. Thus, the number of fruits was 189 and the weight of fruits was 31,649g in case of the greenhouse cultivation and planting on March 20, which were maximum. In case of planting on the latest planting date : May 20 in the open-field cultivation, the number of fruits was 77 and the weight of fruits was 12,502g, which were at a level of 40% of those of planting on March 20 in the greenhouse cultivation 2 months earlier. The total yield per 10a was 10,228kg in the greenhouse cultivation and was 2.2 times as heavy as 4,607kg in the open-field cultivation with regard to the method of cultivation. For the planting period in the greenhouse cultivation, it was 10,539kg and 10,517kg in planting on March 20 and April 5, which was higher by 9% than 9,629kg in planting on April 20. And in the open-field cultivation, it was 4,785kg in planting on April 20 and 4,872kg in planting on May 5, which was higher by 15~17% than 4,163kg in planting on May 20. Taking the above results into account, it is considered proper to plant Momordica charantia from March 20 to April 5 for the greenhouse cultivation and from April 20 to May 5 or thereabouts when a risk of late frost is gone for the open-field cultivation in southern area.

본 시험은 여주의 봄 무가온 하우스내 입체재배시 적정 재식밀도를 구명하고자 수행하였다. 재식밀도는 235plants·10a-1, 305plants·10a-1, 380plants·10a-1의 3처리로 하였으며 ‘에라부’ 품종을 이용하여 3월 26일 정식하였다. 유인방법은 어미 줄기를 적심하고 아들 줄기를 6 개로 유인하였다. 시설 내 광도는 재식밀도가 높을수록 낮아졌으며 순 광합성율도 41-71% 정도로 유의하게 낮았다. 재식밀도에 따른 과일 특성에서는 차이를 보이지 않았으나 재식밀도가 낮을수록 주당 근중과 수확 과수는 증가하였다. 평균 과중은 305plants·10a-1 처리구에서 338.7g으로 가장 무거웠으며 235plants·10a-1 처리구에서 285.2g으로 가장 가벼웠다. 총 수량은 305plants·10a-1 처리구에서 5,393kg·10a-1로 가장 많았으며 235plants·10a-1 처리구에 4,068kg·10a-1로 가장 적었다. 상품과의 수량도 305plants·10a-1 처리구에서 4,767kg·10a-1으로 재식밀도 235plants·10a-1에 비하여 24%, 380plants·10a-1에 비하여 13% 정도가 증가되었다. 따라서 무가온 하우스내 입체 재배시 적정 재식밀도는 305plants·10a-1 정도가 적당할 것으로 판단된다.

본 연구에서는 볶음 처리 후 여주의 총 phenolics, 총 flavonoids, 갈변물질(MRPs, maillard reaction products), 항산화 활성 및 α-glucosidase 저해활성을 비교하였다. 또한 alkaloids 유도체와 쓴맛 저감 효과를 평가하였다. 볶음 온도 및 시간이 증가함에 따라 볶음 처리된 여주는 총 phenolics, 총 flavonoids, MRPs, 항산화 활성 및 α-glucosidase 저해활성 역시 증가하였으나, alkaloid계 화합물 및 쓴맛은 감소하였다. 특히 200℃에서 15분 동안 볶은 여주는 총 phenolics, 총 flavonoids, MRPs, 항산화 활성 및 α-glucosidase 저해활성이 가장 높았고 alkaloid계 화합물 및 쓴맛은 가장 낮게 나타났다. 이 결과로부터 볶음 여주는 쓴맛이 저감되고 이들 추출물은 식품에서도 잠재적인 천연 항산화제로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 판단되었다.

국내에 보유하고 있는 여주 유전자원을 대상으로 과실특성과 charantin 함량을 분석하고, 추후 유전자원을 다양한 용도로 활용하고자 수행하였다. 2010년에 선발된 수량이 높은 계통 2점의 charantin 함량을 HPLC 분석한 결과, 착과 후 일수에 따른 함량의 변이를 보였는데, BG1은 착과 후 24일 15일순으로 charantin 함량이 높게 나타나 착과 후반부에 charantin 함량이 높게 나타난 반면 BG7은 착과 후 일수가 13일에 가장 높았고, 16일 19일 순으로 charantin 함량이 높게 나타나 착과 전반부에 charantin 함량이 높아지는 것으로 나타났다. Charantin 성분 함량이 높은 여주품종 선발 및 수확시기 규명을 위하여 한국, 중국, 인도, 일본 등에서 도입한 유전자원 33점과 시판종 1점중 수량이 높은 13점의 과실특성 및 charantin 함량을 HPLC 분석한 결과 charantin 함량이 높은 104615, K169995, 엔에스454을 선발하였다. 따라서 수량이 높은 13점의 여주자원중 charantin 함량이 높았던 K169995나 NS454은 새로운 품종 육성이나 가공용으로 활용할 수 있으며, 수량이 많았던 K161952나 K051434 등은 과실 생산 목적으로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 생각되고, 착과후 시기별로 용도에 따라 수확을 하여 이용하면 좋을 것으로 생각된다.

In present study, we investigated the antidiabetic effect of Momordica charantia(as well known “bitter melon”). This study was conducted to determine antidiabetic mechanism of Bitter Melon Extract (BME). We measured blood glucose, insulin, glucagon level in a Sprague-Dawley rat model of high-fat diet/streptozotocin(HFD/STZ)-induced diabetes. Five experimental groups were used: normal, HFD/STZ, BME 62.5 mg/kg HFD/STZ, BME 125 mg/kg HFD/STZ and BME 250 mg/kg HFD/STZ. BME was orally administered to the rats every other day for 9 weeks. Results showed that fasting blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the BME 125 mg/kg(150.17 ± 20.22 mg/dL) and 250 mg/kg(124.17 ± 22.17 mg/dL) groups than in the vehicle group(188.83 ± 26.63 mg/dL)(p<0.05). In addition, glucagon levels were lower in the three BME treatment groups than in the vehicle group(p<0.05). Oral glucose tolerance tests revealed that the BME 250 mg/kg group had significantly(p<0.05) reduced 120-minute blood glucose levels and areas under the curve. Our results suggest that BME induces antidiabetic effects via the reduction of glucagon and blood glucose levels.