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Lipid lowering effects of Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon) in HIV-1-protease inhibitor-treated human hepatoma cells, HepG2

  1. Pratibha V Nerurkar1,*,
  2. Yun Kyung Lee1,2,
  3. Ellen H Linden1,3,
  4. Steven Lim1,
  5. Laurel Pearson1,2,
  6. Jennifer Frank4,
  7. Vivek R Nerurkar2

Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009

DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706821

Issue

British Journal of Pharmacology

British Journal of Pharmacology

Volume 148, Issue 8, pages 1156–1164, August 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nerurkar, P. V., Lee, Y. K., Linden, E. H., Lim, S., Pearson, L., Frank, J. and Nerurkar, V. R. (2006), Lipid lowering effects of Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon) in HIV-1-protease inhibitor-treated human hepatoma cells, HepG2. British Journal of Pharmacology, 148: 1156–1164. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706821

Author Information

  1. 1

    Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders and Alternative Medicine, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Room 415H, East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, U.S.A.

  2. 2

    Retrovirology Research Laboratory, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI 96813, U.S.A.

  3. 3

    Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Honolulu, HI 96822, U.S.A.

  4. 4

    University Health Services, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, U.S.A.

*Laboratory of Metabolic Disorders and Alternative Medicine, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Room 415H, East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, U.S.A. E-mail: pratibha@hawaii.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 JAN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 29 JAN 2009
  3. (Received December 29, 2005, Revised March 13, 2006, Accepted May 25, 2006)

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Keywords:

  • Ritonavir;
  • lopinavir;
  • HAART;
  • bitter melon;
  • triglycerides;
  • apoB;
  • apoC-III;
  • apoA-I;
  • apolipoproteins;
  • hyperlipidemia
  • 1
    Hyperlipidemic effects of HIV-1-protease inhibitors (PI) are associated with increased hepatic production of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins, rather than lipoprotein clearance. PI are known to increase apolipoprotein B (apoB) secretion, apoC-III mRNA expression and decrease apoA-1 secretion. Nutritional therapy remains an important strategy to manage PI-associated hyperlipidemia.
  • 2
    This study investigated the in vitro efficacy of Asian vegetable, Momordica charantia or bitter melon (BM) to ameliorate PI-associated apoB and lipid abnormalities in HepG2 cells.
  • 3
    Our study demonstrates that bitter melon juice (BMJ) significantly reduced apoB secretion and apoC-III mRNA expression and normalized apoA-I expression in PI-treated HepG2 cells. BMJ also significantly reduced cellular TG and microsomal TG transfer protein, suggesting that lipid bioavailability and lipidation of apoB assembly may play a role in decreased apoB secretion.
  • 4
    Identifying molecular targets of BM may offer alternative dietary strategies to decrease PI-associated hyperlipidemia and improve quality of life among HIV-1-infected patients.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 148, 1156–1164. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706821

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (263K)