Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a very complex disorder, that directly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Bitter melon (BM) has possessed powerful antioxidant properties. The present study aimed to assess the effect of freeze-dried BM juice against fructose-induced MetS in male rats. Metabolic syndrome was induced in rats by feeding high fructose (HF) diet (60%). After 8 weeks, BM was administered daily by oral gavage at doses (5, 10 or 15mg/kg body weight (BW)) for 6 weeks. The efficacy of freeze-dried BM juice on biological and biochemical parameters, as well as histopathological changes of liver and pancreas tissues in MetS rats was examined. The results showed that feeding HF diet-induced significantly increased in BW, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, leptin hormone, uric acid, and hyperlipidemia, as well as significantly increased inmalondialdehyde level compared with control rats. In addition, rats fed HF diet showed many histopathological changes in liver and pancreatic tissues. Treatment with BM significantly ameliorated all the tested biochemical parameters and overcome the histopathological alterations in liver and pancreas tissues comparing with Mets untreated rats, especially the MetS treated group with medium dose (10 mg/kg BW). Since MetS is closely associated with systemic disorders, and there is no specific drug for all these dysfunctions, therefore BM could be more effective in ameliorated MetS disorders; this may be explained by its antioxidant action. Further studies are needed to examine this possibility.