Anti-Diabetic Activity of Polypeptide-K Isolated from Momordica Charantia: A Retrospective Study of 142 Cases

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus occurs when the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin, or the body is unable to use the insulin produced effectively. In order to regulate the blood glucose of diabetic patients, Diabegard®, a herbal antidiabetic medicine and daily supplement, contains polypeptide-k which exists in the seed of Momordica Charantia (bitter gourd) was prescribed. Purpose: A retrospective study is therefore done with the aim to examine the effectiveness of Diabegard®, polypeptide-k in regulating the blood glucose and cholesterol level of diabetic patients who took Diabegard® for four weeks with a dose of 60 mg per day. Methods: A database record of 105 male and 37 female (ages 25-81) treated with Diabegard®, polypeptide-k was assessed. The effectiveness of Diabegard®, polypeptide-k in blood glucose regulation was determined based on four aspects: gender, three different age categories, four different categories of duration of the disease and five different categories of severity of the disease. The Pearson's correlation was used to find the correlation among variables. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the means of pre- and post-treatment of blood glucose level. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the means of different groups for each aspect. Results: Result showed that age and duration of disease (r2=0.469), pre-treatment of blood glucose and post-treatment of blood glucose (r2=0.606) showed positive relationship. Both paired sample T-test of pre-and post-treatment of blood glucose showed significant difference (p<0.05). Categories with very mild (7 mmol/L), severe (13.9-19.4mmol/L) and very severe (>19.4mmol/L) diabetes showed significant difference (p<0.05). Other tests showed no significant difference. Conclusion: In conclusion, this present retrospective study showed that Diabegard®, polypeptide-k was effective in controlling blood glucose level of all diabetic patients especially in patients with mild (26.87% reduction), severe (40.43% reduction) and very severe diabetes (49.27% reduction).