National Bitter Melon Council

Researchers have found that Bitter Melon contains several proteins that can inhibit HIV in the test-tube. These proteins, known collectively as ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are alpha-momarchorin, beta-momarchorin and MAP-30 (Momordica Anti-HIV Protein).

In one study done in Los Angeles in 1992, as many as 100 persons with AIDS or HIV tried using Bitter Melon as a possible herbal AIDS treatment. Interest in Bitter Melon for HIV began when academic researchers found two proteins in Bitter Melon which inhibited HIV in lab tests: MAP 30 and momorcharain. As research is still being done on these components and qualities, it is not known for certain which active ingredients in Bitter Melon have clinical usefulness. Studies in the Philippines also show Bitter Melon to have a good effect on treating HIV/AIDS symptoms as well as leukemia, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

Japanese researchers have produced an artificial version of MAP 30 using recombinant techniques. The recombinant protein retains the anti-HIV effects of the natural product in the test-tube and has only minor toxic effects on cells and laboratory animals.

Bitter melon is an unlicensed, experimental treatment. There have not yet been any controlled studies that could establish whether or not it is an effective treatment. In the absence of hard facts, there are many anecdotal accounts of people with HIV who claim to have had remarkable improvements in CD4 count, diarrhoea and dermatitis and to have gained weight. However, other people report no benefits from the treatment.

A combination of herbs may produce better results than single herbal therapy; however, large comparative studies on herbal combinations have not been conducted. One study of bitter melon in combination with curcumin, glycyrrhizin and SPV-30 (all taken in capsule form) found some evidence of antiviral effect.

There are several different ways of administering it, including chopping and blending the plant with water or boiling it for 60 to 90 minutes to produce a liquid which is then cooled, strained and either drunk or used as a retention enema (in which the liquid is held in the bowel until it is all absorbed). The suggested amount of drink or enema is a total of 12-16 ounces per day.

Sources:
http://www.aegis.com
http://www.aidsmap.com

Text sources sited on aidsmap.com:

Carter GM et al. Case reports of potential combination therapy using botanical substances, selected on the basis of their antiviral activity. 12th World AIDS Conference, Geneva, abstract 42388, 1998.

Cunnick J. Bitter melon: research review. J Nat Med 4(1):16-21, 1993.

Foa-Tomasi L. Effect of ribosome-inactivating proteins on virus infected cells: inhibition of virus multiplication and of protein synthesis. Arch Virol 71:323-332, 1982.

Lee-Huang S et al. MAP 30, an anti-HIV protein, inhibits both ribosomal RNA function and DNA topological interconversions. 9th Intl Conf AIDS, Berlin, abstract B26-1993, 1993.

Lee-Huang S et al. The anti-HIV activity of recombinant MAP 30 from bitter melon. 10th Intl Conf AIDS, Yokohama, abstract 114A, 1994.

Leung SO et al. The immunosuppressive activities of two abortifacient proteins isolated from the seeds of bitter melon (Momordica charantia). Immunopharmacology 13:159-171, 1987.

Zhang QC et al. Primary report on the clinical use of ChinesE herbal extract of momordica charantia (bitter melon) in HIV-infected patients. 8th Intl Conf AIDS, Amsterdam, abstract PuB 7597, 1992.