The Effects of Oral Supplementation of Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) Leaves Extract on the VEGF serum Level in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Randomized Controlled Trial
Fahrun Nur Rosyid (a*), Tomy Adi Prasetyo (b), Muhtadi (c), K Heri Nugroho HS (d)

a,b) Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
*fnr100[at]ums.ac.id
c) Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
d) Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to study the oral supplementation of Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) leaves extract on VEGF serum level in diabetic foot ulcers.
Materials and Methods: Study used the randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) with the score of PEDIS 1-8 fulfilling the criteria were divided into two groups: 15 patients in the treatment group were given the bitter melon leaves extract per oral at the dosage of 6 g/day- while other 15 patients in the control group obtained the placebo. The intervention was conducted for 4 weeks and the VEGF serum level was measured on the baseline and in the end of treatment. Data were analyzed using the paired t test and independent t test.
Results: after 4 weeks of treatment, there was a decline in the baseline of VEGF serum level in the treatment group from 431.5 plus minus 248.5 pg/ml into 236.9 plus minus 158 pg/ml. Meanwhile, in control group, there was a decline from 382.4 plus minus 351.4 pg/ml into 191.6 plus minus 121.9 pg/ml. The results of the analysis on the effect of the oral supplementation of the Bitter Melon leaves extract on VEFG serum level were found insignificant alpha = 0.39.
Conclusion:The oral supplementation of bitter melon leaves extract was not proven to increase VEFG serum level to the DFU patients.

Keywords: Bitter Melon, Diabetes Mellitus, diabetic foot ulcer, Momordica charantia L., VEGF

Topic: Medicine and Health Sciences