Charantin is a mixture of steroidal saponins, primarily sitosterol-glucoside and stigmasterol-glucoside, isolated from the fruit of Momordica charantia (bitter melon). Extraction involves ethanol-based methods with subsequent purification and standardization.
Charantin is one of the primary compounds responsible for the blood sugar-lowering effects of bitter melon, acting through insulin secretion stimulation and glucose uptake enhancement. It also exhibits lipid-lowering and antioxidant properties. Commercially, charantin is used in blood sugar management supplements, metabolic health formulations, and pharmaceutical research.
