AEGiS-GMHC: Common Alternative Therapies: Bitter Melon (MAP-30)

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Common Alternative Therapies: Bitter Melon (MAP-30)

Gay Men's Health Crisis: Treatment Issues, Volume 7 No. 11/12 - Winter, 1993/94
Bree Scott-Hartland

"Bitter Melon" (Momordica charantia) is the fruit of a vine-type climbing plant and is a relative of Chinese Cucumber (Tricosanthes kirilowii), the source of the drug Compound Q. Extracts of Bitter Melon fruit, seeds, and vine have been used in Asia to induce abortion and as a treatment for diabetes, gastrointestinal complaints, and some cancers and viral infections.[1] Scientists have identified several active proteins extracted from Bitter Melon, including MAP-30, alpha-momorcharin, and beta-momorcharin.

In the test tube, MAP-30 inhibited the ability of HIV to infect cells and to replicate, as assessed by expression of the HIV core protein p24 and by levels of reverse transcriptase in certain cell cultures. It also inhibited syncytia formation.[2] No toxic effects on human cells were seen in these assays. A crude extract from Bitter Melon fruit has shown anti-tumor activity in mice[3], and a seed extract inhibited herpes virus-1 and poliovirus in human cells.[4]

Since 1988, PWAs in the U.S. have experimented with retention enemas using juice and tea extracted from the bitter melon plant. Anecdotal reports of the effects range from those who had sustained CD4 cell level rises[5] to those who showed no effect. Recently, the Los Angeles community-based trials group SEARCH Alliance proposed a clinical trial of MAP-30 in PWAs; however, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) declined to fund the study, citing "problems with toxicities over long-term use."[6]

1. Cunnick J et al. Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. 1993; 4:16-21.

2. Lee-Huang S, et al. Federation of European Biochemical Society. 1990;272:12-18.

3. Jilka C, et al. Cancer Research. 1983;43:5151-5155.

4. Foa-Tomasi L. et al. Archives of Virology. 1982;71:322-32.

5. Zhang QC. Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. 1992;3:57-61.

6. Astudillo RM. Bay Area Reporter. May 27, 1993.

Copyright © 1993 - Treatment Issues. Reproduced with permission. Treatment Issues is published twelve times yearly by GMHC, Inc. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reproduction is encouraged. Subscription lists are kept confidential. GMHC Treatment Issues, The Tisch Building, 119 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011 fredg@gmhc.org http://www.gmhc.org

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