Phytochemical Test of Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L) Herb and its Effect on Rat Blood Sugar Levels

This study aims to determine the class of chemical compounds, phytochemical levels, antihyperglycemic effects, and histopathology of the pancreas of rats treated with bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L) for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Bitter gourd is made by adding water, then mashed and squeezed. The ingredients were tested for their phytochemical content and antidiabetic power. 15 male rats were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 as a negative control, namely normal rats without treatment, group 2 as a positive control given alloxan, group 3, namely rats given alloxan and bitter melon fruit 0.9 mL, group 4, namely rats given alloxan and bitter melon ingredients 1.8 mL, and group 5, namely rats, were given alloxan and a mixture of bitter melon 3.6 mL. The phytochemical test results of bitter melon fruit contain carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids. The total alkaloid content of the bitter melon fruit is 0.232%, the saponin content of the bitter melon fruit is 0.6375%, and the terpenoid content of the bitter melon fruit is 0.5317%. The administration of bitter melon fruit to diabetic rats can reduce blood sugar levels of rats and the histopathological observations of the pancreas of rats show a repair effect on pancreatic damage after administration of bitter melon herb.