Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas

The Institute of Herbal Medicine (IHM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of the Philippines Manila, has introduced a game-changer in the fight against type 2 diabetes with the development of an ampalaya (bitter melon/ gourd) tablet. This breakthrough was presented by Professor Daisy-Mae A. Bagaoisan, a registered pharmacist and research assistant professor at IHM.

Ampalaya, known scientifically as Momordica charantia, is rich in bioactive compounds, with over 220 identified constituents, including alkaloids, glycosides, and triterpenoids like momordicins I and IV.

“Diabetes, particularly non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (nIDDM), is a growing concern worldwide, especially in low and middle-income countries like the Philippines,” said Prof. Bagaoisan. “Our research on the ampalaya tablet offers a natural alternative that could complement current treatments for managing this condition.”

“The rising prevalence of diabetes, exacerbated by factors such as obesity and lifestyle changes, underscores the need for effective and accessible treatments,” she emphasized. “Bitter may indeed be better when it comes to managing diabetes.”

Prof. Bagaoisan and the team at IHM focused on the ampalaya powdered leaves, which demonstrated significant potential in lowering blood sugar levels.

“Our studies have shown that the ampalaya tablet can produce a significant reduction in blood sugar levels, comparable to the drug glibenclamide,” she explained. “The tablet has undergone rigorous clinical trials (phases 1 to 3) and has been found to effectively reduce fasting plasma glucose by the third week of treatment and decrease glycosylated hemoglobin after 12 weeks.”

What sets this ampalaya tablet apart from other ampalaya products on the market is that it is classified as a herbal medicine, not just an herbal supplement. Herbal medicines are rigorously tested for safety and efficacy and are regulated by health authorities like the Philippine FDA, and unlike herbal supplements, which are often marketed without therapeutic claims, this tablet has undergone extensive clinical trials and is proven to have a therapeutic effect on blood sugar levels. This distinction ensures that the ampalaya tablet offers a superior, scientifically validated option for managing type 2 diabetes.

Effective and Safe

The ampalaya tablet is not only effective but also safe. “It has been formulated according to WHO guidelines and is stable at room temperature for at least one and a half years,” Prof. Bagaoisan added. “Moreover, it is very safe, making it a viable option for those seeking an herbal remedy with no known side effects.”

The clinical studies conducted by the team at UP Manila have paved the way for the tablet’s registration as an herbal medicine with the Philippine FDA. The transfer technology document for the ampalaya tablet was completed in 2006, bringing this innovation closer to being widely available to the public.

The development of the ampalaya tablet was a collaborative effort involving a large and dedicated team of experts from various fields. The pharmacognosy team was led by the late Cecilia Zamora, with significant contributions from the late Ernesta G. Quintana in the field of agriculture. The pre-clinical studies team was composed of Dr. Romeo F. Quijano, Maria Joanna I. Mendoza, Daisy-Mae O. Bagaoisan, Pacifico Magturo Jr., Jo-Ann Sur Magturo (deceased), Federico C. Ripalda, and Bernardo Sagun, with guidance from Dr. Isidro C. Sia and Dr. Horacio R. Estrada (deceased). Other key members of this phase included Cynthia S. Moran, Lina P. Ramirez, and Fernando E. Melgar.

The pharmaceutical studies team was led by the late Natividad F. De Castro, PhD, and Prof. Emeritus Leticia-Barbara B. Gutierrez. The team included Rodrigo C. Curaming, Adelina T. Boncodin, Ella Gisela P. Gregorio, Ma. Luisa F. Baquiran, Mary Joy F. Cayetano, Jacqueline L. Poblete, Marissa P. De Gracia, Lorna V. Lopez, Marita P. Siscar, Marissa A. Laurino, Aurora C. Minoza II, Iris Ma. M. Palermo, Haydee R. Boton, Fernando M. Marquez, Joceline B. Perez, Aldrin Gregory J. Sacramento, Melody G. Martinez, Abigail M.T. Lorenzo, Arthur P. Bautista, Ricardo V. Obusan, Maria Paula C. Oliva, Anne San M. Buenaventura, Jimmy S. Pajarillo, Ruth Karen O. Cielo, and Maria Cristina G. Sison.

The clinical studies phase was overseen by Professor Emeritus Dr. Nelia P. Cortes-Maramba and Dr. Jaime M. Purificacion, with key support from Dr. Ma. Cristina Ruiz, Dr. Anita Rebosura, Dr. Dina E. Leon, Dr. Herbert Ho, Elicia C. Ibañez, the late Eufrocena M. Montalbo, and Lourdes B. Bagnaes.

This extensive collaboration of pharmacists, doctors, researchers, and specialists was integral to this research to advance in the development of plant-based therapies for chronic diseases, with the ampalaya tablet standing out as a significant tool in the global fight against type 2 diabetes.

For further details on the ampalaya tablet, please contact: 

Institute of Herbal Medicine, NIH, UP Manila
Director: Cecilia C. Maramba-Lazarte, MD, MScID, MScCT
Email address: nih.ihm@gmail.com

UP Manila Technology Transfer and Business Development Office
2/F UP Manila Main Building, Joaquin Gonzales Compound,
Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, Philippines

Open Mondays to Fridays 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN & 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Tel.: (632) 88141293 | Email: ttbdo.upm@up.edu.ph