Abstract
Pharmacological studies have revealed the potential antidiabetic effects of bitter melon seeds (Momordica charantia) in animals and humans. However, the sub-chronic safety of bitter melon seeds remains elusive. This exploratory study aimed to assess the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of a bitter melon seed extract from supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction in Wistar rats based on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines No. 423 and 408. No mortality and toxicity were observed in rats treated with a single dose of the extract during the 14-day observation period. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was considered greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight (BW). For the sub-chronic toxicity study, male and female rats were orally administered daily doses of 0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg BW for 90 days. No mortality, morbidity, and abnormal pathological and biochemical alterations were observed. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of the bitter melon seed extract was greater than 1000 mg/kg BW. Accordingly, bitter melon seed extract from scCO2 extraction may be considered a non-toxic dietary ingredient.
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