© 2013 Bitter Gourd Project. Newsletter Contact: jen.luoh@worldveg.org

Congratulations to Bitter Gourd Project member Dr. Ching-jang

Huang and her team at National Taiwan University for their intensive research on bitter gourd’s effects on human health. The team has published various papers on this topic with a recent publication in the April issue of Journal of Functional Foods. Interested in reading their research? We have compiled a list of the team’s current publications on bitter gourd:

June 2011

April 2013 Issue No. 23

Issue No. 8

Hsu, C., Tsai, T.-H., Li, Y.-Y., Wu, W.-H., Huang, C.-J., & Tsai, P.-J. (2012). Wild bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn. var. abbreviata Ser.) extract and its bioactive components suppress Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation. Food chemistry. Huang, T.-N., Lu, K.-N., Pai, Y.-P., Chin Hsu, & Huang, C.-J. (2013). Role of GLP-1 in the Hypoglycemic Effects of Wild Bitter Gourd. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013. Lu, K.-N., Hsu, C., Chang, M.-L., & Huang, C.-J. (2013). Wild bitter gourd increased metabolic rate and up-regulated genes related to mitochondria biogenesis and UCP-1 in mice. Journal of Functional Foods, 5(2), 668–678. Tsai, C.-H., Chen, E. C.-F., Tsay, H.-S., & Huang, C.-J. (2012). Wild bitter gourd improves metabolic syndrome: a preliminary dietary supplementation trial. Nutrition Journal, 11(1), 4.

Bitter Gourd Project NEWS April 2013 Issue No. 23

Newsletter Contact: jen.luoh@worldveg.org © 2013 Bitter Gourd Project.

Dr. Mamta Pathak (below, second from the left) of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is leading her team into the second year of the bitter gourd multilocational trial in Ludhiana, India. The seedlings were transplanted in the field on April 1st (below right). On April 29th, Dr. Narinder Dhillon (below, first from the left), AVRDC Cucurbit Breeder visited the field trial to observe the trial details such as number of plants per replication, staking of vines, and other cultivation practices. The discussion between the two cucurbit experts was fruitful. Dr. Dhillon noted the excellent conditions of the trial at PAU and congratulated the team.

BiG Thank You! Mr. Cheng-chung Lin, Principal Research Assistant of the AVRDC Cucurbit group in Shanhua, Taiwan will be leaving the Bitter Gourd Project team. For two seasons, Mr. Lin led the bitter gourd field team in growing and evaluating bitter gourd varieties for both germplasm trials and multilocational trials of commercial hybrids. His work contributed to horticultural evaluations and provided samples for nutritional analyses and human trial bitter gourd and cucumber powders. A BIG thank you to Mr. Lin! The BiG team wishes you the best in your future endeavors!

OUTPUT 4 – Efficacy Studies From May 29th – June 2nd, ten members of the BiG team will visit the human trial at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. The trial will be conducted by Ms. Christine Ludwig and Ms. Melanie Streicher of Justus-Liebig University, Giessen and KCMC’s Dr. Mark Swai. During the visit, the members will discuss details for the human trial in India to be held at Avinashilingam University for Women (AUW) and the upcoming Bitter Gourd Conference.

2

OUTPUT 2 and 3 – Germplasm Evaluation and Factorial Studies

Bitter Gourd Project NEWS April 2013 Issue No. 23

Newsletter Contact: jen.luoh@worldveg.org © 2013 Bitter Gourd Project.

OUTPUT 7 – Communication and Promotion

with Bitter Gourd

Promoting bitter gourd can be

creative, fun and attractive! Here

are just a few examples of how

bitter gourd has been used in out-

of-the-box ways!

Sing and dance with Mr. Bitter Gourd! Teach your kids a

bitter gourd nursery rhyme! Thanks to YouTube’s

Rhyme4Kids Channel, your children can now learn about

the bitter vegetable while singing along this catchy tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3y4utkFT4M

The United States National

Bitter Melon Council is devoted

to the cultivation of a vibrant,

diverse community through the

promotion and distribution of

bitter melon (a/k/a bitter

gourd). The Council’s mascot

(left), a giant bitter gourd walks

the streets of the US, spreading

the word about bitter gourd.

Check out their website:

http://bittermelon.org

Bitter gourd inspired artistic creativity among

Sri Lankan students, who designed unique

and beautiful jewelry based on the shape of

bitter gourd leaves and fruit.

http://www.thearchitect.lk/2013/04/jewellery-

inspired-by-bitter-gourd/

Bitter gourd is the favorite

vegetable on the tropical island of

Okinawa, Japan. Called “goya” by

locals, bitter gourd is one of the

main ingredients of the healthy

Okinawan diet. Goya can be seen

everywhere on the island. When

strolling around Okinawa, use a

Goya-Fan (left) to cool you from

the hot air.