Momordica charantia (MC) is a traditional plant widely used since ancient times for wound healing. This study evaluated its potential effects on tendon healing. Adult male Wistar albino rats (n = 32, 8 rats in each group) were anesthetized, and their Achilles tendons were prepared for surgical procedures. Group 1 (Cont = control group) was not subjected to any surgery and was used as a control group for baseline values. Group 2 (PR = primary repair group) underwent primary repair (PR) with a monofilament suture after a full-thickness incision of the Achilles tendon. A full-thickness incision was also made to the Achilles tendon of group 3 (CT = collagen tube-administered group), followed by PR and collagen tube insertion. In group 4 (MC = M. charantia-administered group), 1 mL of MC extract was applied locally on the collagen tube in addition to the surgical procedure applied to group 3. The Achilles tendons were excised on the postoperative 40th day and examined stereologically, histologically, and bioinformatically. Data showed that the total volume of the collagen fibers was higher in MC and CT groups than in the PR group. The total volume of the tendon was decreased in MC and CT groups than in the Cont group. The ratios between the volumes of the collagen fibers and total tendon in the MC and CT groups were significantly different from PR, but not different from the Cont group. Additionally, MC improved tenoblastic activity, collagen production, and neovascularization. Bioinformatic interactions showed that the proteases of MC could trigger the signals playing a role on vasculogenesis, reducing inflammation, and contributing to tenoblast activation and collagen remodeling. MC extract ameliorates the healing of injured tendon and can provide satisfactory tendon repair. Further works are recommended to explore the healing capacity of MC.

1.
Altunkaynak BZ, Altunkaynak E, Unal D, Unal B. A novel application for the Cavalieri principle: a stereological and methodological study. Eurasian J Med. 2009 Aug;41(2):99–101.
2.
Andarawis-Puri N, Flatow EL, Soslowsky LJ. Tendon basic science: development, repair, regeneration, and healing. J Orthop Res. 2015 Jun;33(6):780–4.
3.
Moore MJ, De Beaux A. A quantitative ultrastructural study of rat tendon from birth to maturity. J Anat. 1987 Aug;153:163–9.
4.
Ayeni MJ, Oyeyemi SD, Kayode J, Peter GP. Phytochemical, proximate and mineral analyses of the leaves of Gossypium hirsutum L. and Momordica charantia L. and Momordica charantia L. J Nat Sci Res. 2015;5:99–107.
5.
Bajpai M, Pande A, Tewari SK, Prakash D. Phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of some food and medicinal plants. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Jun;56(4):287–91.
6.
Beason DP, Tucker JJ, Lee CS, Edelstein L, Abboud JA, Soslowsky LJ. Rat rotator cuff tendon-to-bone healing properties are adversely affected by hypercholesterolemia. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Jun;23(6):867–72.
7.
Chen J, Tian R, Qiu M, Lu L, Zheng Y, Zhang Z. Trinorcucurbitane and cucurbitane triterpenoids from the roots of Momordica charantia. Phytochemistry. 2008 Feb;69(4):1043–8.
8.
Chung SW, Song BW, Kim YH, Park KU, Oh JH. Effect of platelet-rich plasma and porcine dermal collagen graft augmentation for rotator cuff healing in a rabbit model. Am J Sports Med. 2013 Dec;41(12):2909–18.
9.
De Jonge S, van den Berg C, de Vos RJ, van der Heide HJ, Weir A, Verhaar JA, et al. Incidence of midportion Achilles tendinopathy in the general population. Br J Sports Med. 2011 Oct;45(13):1026–8.
10.
Deng YY, Yi Y, Zhang LF, Zhang RF, Zhang Y, Wei ZC, et al. Immunomodulatory activity and partial characterization of polysaccharides from Momordica charantia. Molecules. 2014 Aug;19(9):13432–47.
11.
Deniz ÖG, Kaplan S. The effects of different herbals on the rat hippocampus exposed to electromagnetic field for one hour during the prenatal period. J Chem Neuroanat. 2022 Jan;119:102043.
12.
Duan ZZ, Zhou XL, Li YH, Zhang F, Li FY, Su-Hua Q. Protection of Momordica charantia polysaccharide against intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury through JNK3 signaling pathway. J Recept Signal Transduct. 2015;35(6):523–9.
13.
Fang EF, Zhang CZY, Wong JH, Shen JY, Li CH, Ng TB. The MAP30 protein from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) seeds promotes apoptosis in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Lett. 2012 Nov;324(1):66–74.
14.
Fredianto M, Herman H, Dias Ismiarto Y, Putra A, Alif I, Amalina ND, et al. Secretome of hypoxia-preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells enhance the expression of HIF-1a and bFGF in a rotator cuff tear model. Med Glas. 2023 Aug;20(2).
15.
Freedman BR, Kuttler A, Beckmann N, Nam S, Kent D, Schuleit M, et al. Enhanced tendon healing by a tough hydrogel with an adhesive side and high drug-loading capacity. Nat Biomed Eng. 2022 Oct;6(10):1167–79.
16.
Grover JK, Yadav SP. Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Momordica charantia: a review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jul;93(1):123–32.
17.
Gundersen HJ, Jensen EB. The efficiency of systematic sampling in stereology and its prediction. J Microsc. 1987 Sep;147(Pt 3):229–63.
18.
Güven D, Altunkaynak BZ, Ayranci E, Kaplan S, Bildircin FD, Kesim Y, et al. Stereological and histopathological evaluation of ovary and uterine horns of female rats prenatally exposed to diclofenac sodium. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2013 Apr;33(3):258–63.
19.
Heisterbach PE, Todorov A, Flückiger R, Evans CH, Majewski M. Effect of BMP-12, TGF-β1 and autologous conditioned serum on growth factor expression in Achilles tendon healing. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2012 Oct;20(10):1907–14.
20.
Huegel J, Boorman-Padgett JF, Nuss CA, Raja HA, Chan PY, Kuntz AF, et al. Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on rat Achilles tendon healing. J Orthop Res. 2020 Jan;38(1):70–81.
21.
Hussan F, Teoh SL, Muhamad N, Mazlan M, Latiff AA. Momordica charantia ointment accelerates diabetic wound healing and enhances transforming growth factor-β expression. J Wound Care. 2014 Aug;23(8):400, 402, 404-7–7.
22.
Jia S, Shen M, Zhang F, Xie J. Recent advances in Momordica charantia: functional components and biological activities. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov;18(12):2555.
23.
Kang J, Zeng B, Tang S, Wang M, Han X, Zhou C, et al. Effects of Momordica charantia polysaccharide on in vitro ruminal fermentation and cellulolytic bacteria. Ital J Anim Sci. 2017 Feb;16(2):226–33.
24.
Kuruoglu E, Onger ME, Marangoz AH, Kocacan SE, Cokluk C, Kaplan S. Postlaminectomy bone and scar formations in presence of Ankaferd Blood Stopper and Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia): an experimental study. Turk Neurosurg. 2017;27(3):441–6.
25.
Lee HJ, Hwang E, Park B, Zhang M, Sun ZW, Lee DG, et al. Methanol extract of bitter melon alleviates UVB-induced MMPs expression via MAP kinase and AP-1 signaling in human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. Phytother Res. 2016 Sep;30(9):1519–26.
26.
Leung SO, Yeung HW, Leung KN. The immunosuppressive activities of two abortifacient proteins isolated from the seeds of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) Immunopharmarcology. Immunopharmacology. 1987 Jun;13(3):159–71.
27.
Li D, Wang G, Li J, Yan L, Liu H, Jiu J, et al. Biomaterials for tissue-engineered treatment of tendinopathy in animal models: a systematic review. Tissue Eng B Rev. 2023;29(4):387–413.
28.
Liu JQ, Chen JC, Wang CF, Qiu MH. New cucurbitane triterpenoids and steroidal glycoside from Momordica charantia. Molecules. 2009 Nov;14(12):4804–13.
29.
Maffulli N, Moller H, Evans C. Tendon healing: can it be optimized?Br J Sports Med. 2002 Oct;36(5):315–6.
30.
Mahatmanto T. Review seed biopharmaceutical cyclic peptides: from discovery to applications. Pept Sci. 2015 Nov;104(6):804–14.
31.
Majewski M, Heisterbach P, Jaquiéry C, Dürselen L, Todorov A, Martin I, et al. Improved tendon healing using bFGF, BMP-12 and TGFβ1 in a rat model. Eur Cell Mater. 2018 Jun;35:318–34.
32.
Meng Y, Liu S, Li J, Meng Y, Zhao X. Preparation of an antitumor and antivirus agent: chemical modification of α-MMC and MAP30 from Momordica charantia L. with covalent conjugation of polyethylene glycol. Int J Nanomed. 2012;7:3133–42.
33.
Müller SA, Todorov A, Heisterbach PE, Martin I, Majewski M. Tendon healing: an overview of physiology, biology, and pathology of tendon healing and systematic review of state of the art in tendon bioengineering. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Jul;23(7):2097–105.
34.
Murphy PG, Loitz BJ, Frank CB, Hart DA. Influence of exogenous growth factors on the synthesis and secretion of collagen types I and III by explants of normal and healing rabbit ligaments. Biochem Cell Biol. 1994 Sep-Oct;72(9‐10):403–9.
35.
Nagasawa H, Watanabe K, Inatomi H. Effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia l.) or ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale rosc) on spontaneous mammary tumorigenesis in SHN mice. Am J Chin Med. 2002;30(2‐3):195–205.
36.
Najafi P, Torki M. Performance, blood metabolites and immunocompetaence of broiler chicks fed diets included essentioal oils of medicinal herbs. J Anim Vet Adv. 2010;9(7):1164–8.
37.
Nerurkar PV, Johns LM, Buesa LM, Kipyakwai G, Volper E, Sato R, et al. Momordica charantia (bitter melon) attenuates high-fat diet-associated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation. 2011 Jun;8:64.
38.
Panda BC, Mondal S, Devi KSP, Maiti TK, Khatua S, Acharya K, et al. Pectic polysaccharide from the green fruits of Momordica charantia (Karela): structural characterization and study of immunoenhancing and antioxidant properties. Carbohydr Res. 2015 Jan;401:24–31.
39.
Pişkin A, Altunkaynak BZ, Tümentemur G, Kaplan S, Yazıcı OB, Hökelek M. The beneficial effects of Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) on wound healing of rabbit skin. J Dermatolog Treat. 2014 Aug;25(4):350–7.
40.
Pitchakarn P, Ogawa K, Suzuki S, Takahashi S, Asamoto M, Chewonarin T, et al. Momordica charantia leaf extract suppresses rat prostate cancer progression in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Sci. 2010 Oct;101(10):2234–40.
41.
Polito L, Bortolotti M, Maiello S, Battelli MG, Bolognesi A. Plants producing ribosome-inactivating proteins in traditional medicine. Molecules. 2016 Nov;21(11):1560.
42.
Pu Z, Lu BY, Liu WY, Jin SW. Characterization of the enzymatic mechanism of γ-momorcharin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein with lower molecular weight of 11,500 purified from the seeds of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1996 Dec;229(1):287–94.
43.
Puri M, Kaur I, Kanwar RK, Gupta RC, Chauhan A, Kanwar JR. Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) from Momordica charantia for anti-viral therapy. Curr Mol Med. 2009 Dec;9(9):1080–94.
44.
Raish M. Momordica charantia polysaccharides ameliorate oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and apoptosis during myocardial infarction by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Apr;97:544–51. Momordica charantia
45.
Raish M, Ahmad A, Jan BL, Alkharfy KM, Ansari MA, Mohsin K, et al. Momordica charantia polysaccharides mitigate the progression of STZ induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. Int J Biol Macromol. 2016 Oct;91:394–9.
46.
Raish M, Ahmad A, Ansari MA, Alkharfy KM, Aljenoobi FI, Jan BL, et al. Momordica charantia polysaccharides ameliorate oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in ethanol-induced gastritis in mucosa through NF-kB signaling pathway inhibition. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018 May;111:193–9.
47.
Robertson CM, Chen CT, Shindle MK, Cordasco FA, Rodeo SA, Warren RF. Failed healing of rotator cuff repair correlates with altered collagenase and gelatinase in supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Sep;40(9):1993–2001.
48.
Sathishsekar D, Subramanian S. Beneficial effects of Momordica charantia seeds in the treatment of STZ-induced diabetes in experimental rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Jun;28(6):978–83.
49.
Scartezzini P, Speroni E. Review on some plants of Indian traditional medicine with antioxidant activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Jul;71(1‐2):23–43.
50.
Sharma P, Maffulli N. Tendon injury and tendinopathy: healing and repair. J Bone Jt Surg Am. 2005 Jan;87(1):187–202.
51.
Shoemaker BA, Panchenko AR. Deciphering protein-protein interactions. Part II. Computational methods to predict protein and domain interaction partners. PLoS Comput Biol. 2007 Apr;3(4):e43.
52.
Suchak AA, Bostick G, Reid D, Blitz S, Jomha N. The incidence of Achilles tendon ruptures in Edmonton, Canada. Foot Ankle Int. 2005 Nov;26(11):932–6.
53.
Szklarczyk D, Gable AL, Lyon D, Junge A, Wyder S, Huerta-Cepas J, et al. STRING v11: protein-protein association networks with increased coverage, supporting functional discovery in genome-wide experimental datasets. Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Jan;47(D1):607–13.
54.
Tomczak A, Mortensen JM, Winnenburg R, Liu C, Alessi DT, Swamy V, et al. Interpretation of biological experiments changes with evolution of the Gene Ontology and its annotations. Sci Rep. 2018 Mar;8(1):5115.
55.
Tümentemur G, Altunkaynak BZ, Kaplan S. Is melatonin, leptin or their combination more effective on oxidative stress and folliculogenesis in the obese rats?J Obstet Gynaecol. 2020 Jan;40(1):116–27.
56.
Xu X, Shan B, Liao CH, Xie JH, Wen PW, Shi JY. Anti-diabetic properties of Momordica charantia L. polysaccharide in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Int J Biol Macromol. 2015 Nov;81:538–43.
57.
Xue H, Li P, Bian J, Gao Y, Sang Y, Tan J. Extraction, purification, structure, modification, and biological activity of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides: a review. Front Nutr. 2022 Sep;9:1005181.
58.
Yu Y, Zhang XH, Ebersole B, Ribnicky D, Wang ZQ. Bitter melon extract attenuating hepatic steatosis may be mediated by FGF21 and AMPK/Sirt1 signaling in mice. Sci Rep. 2013 Nov;3:3142.
59.
Zhang F, Lin L, Xie J. A mini-review of chemical and biological properties of polysaccharides from Momordica charantia. Int J Biol Macromol. 2016 Nov;92:246–53.
You do not currently have access to this content.