Bitter leaf plant is botanically known as
Vernonia amygdalina , in Hausa the plant is
known as shakwa or shuwaka, in Igbo
language it is called onugbu while in
Yoruba the plant is called ewuro. Bitter
leaf is an important component of many
local cuisine especially in the tropics where
it is used in the preparation of bitter
soups, bitter leaf tea, dishes and for
medicinal purposes. Phytochemical
screening of bitter leaf shows that it
contains saponins, tannins, terpenes,
alkaloids and steroid. The plant also
contains several nutritional and medicinal
components: which include phosphorus,
potassium, sodium, selenium, iron, zinc,
moisture, protein, fat, fiber,
carbohydrate,carotene, calcium,
magnesium, manganese and copper.
Lactone extracted from bitter leafs contain
didehydroandrographolide, deoxy
andrographolide, 14-deoxy-n,
homoandrographolide and 12-
andrographolide. Other components
include pan ikulin, mono-0-metilwithin, 4-
dimetiler, polimetoksiflavon, andrgrafin
and apigenin-7. This bitter tasting plant has
several life saving benefits, a recent study
published in the journal of food
biochemistry exposed the huge potentials
of the bitter leaf plant .There are several
health benefits of bitter leaf plant these
include:
1. Bitter Leaf Anti-Cancer Properties
Annually an estimated 1,685,210 new cases
of cancer will be diagnosed in the United
States and 595,690 people die from the
disease. The number of new cases of
cancer is 454.8 per 100,000 men and
women per year, cancer is increasingly
becoming a public health nightmare. Bitter
leaf is one of the few plants with huge anti-
cancer properties, it has been shown to be
useful in the management of hydatidiform
mole, trophoblastic tumor and lung tumor
which was the forerunner of
cancer. Another study published in the
International journal of environmental
research and public health revealed that
treatment with b itter leaf (Vernonia
amygdalina) extracts moderately reduces
cellular viability and induces minimal DNA
damage in MCF-7 cells. The study
concluded that bitter leaf extracts represent
a DNA-damaging anti-cancer agent against
breast cancer through minimal DNA
damage and moderate toxicity in tumors
cells which is its main mechanism of
action.
2. Bitter Leaf and High Blood Pressure Control
Another health benefit of bitter leaf plant is
its ability to control blood pressure. Bitter
leafs have shown very significant effect on
blood pressure regulation. A clinical study
which analyzed the impact of bitter leaf on
low density lipoproteins (LDL) and High
density Lipoprotein (HDL) showed that
bitter leaf decreased bad fat (LDL)
cholesterol by nearly half, while
simultaneously raising good fat (HDL)
cholesterol levels. A study in the Journal of
Food Biochemistry revealed that free and
bound phenol extracts from Vernonia
amygdalina significantly inhibited α‐
amylase, α‐glucosidase and there exist a
strong correlation between the enzyme
inhibitory activities and the phenol content
of the extracts. The study concluded that
this could be the possible mechanism
through which bitter leaf exert its
antihypertensive property. In addition the
high levels of potassium in plant has been
linked to the plants ability to reduce blood
pressure, it therefore useful in the
management of hypertension
3. Bitter Leaf and Gastro intestinal
Disturbances
For centuries bitter leaf tea benefits have
played a key role in resolving conditions
related to digestion .Bitter leaf has been
used in the management of gastrointestinal
disturbance arising from bacterial
contamination of food, especially bacillary
dysentery caused by Shigella species. In
addition, aqueous extract of the leaves
have been shown to prevent the growth
and proliferation of many microorganism
including Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli. Studies have shown that
phenolic extracts of bitter leaf exhibit
anthelmintic activity and could be an
inexpensive and readily available source of
anthelmintic treatment.
4. Bitter Leaf Cure For Headaches, Migraine
And Flu
Headache is the symptom of pain anywhere
in the region of the head or neck and
severe headaches increases your risk of
depression .The ability of bitter leaf to cure
headaches especially tension headache and
migraine have been well documented over
the years, it has also been shown to be
helpful in relieving symptoms associated
with cold and catarrh. Many parts of the
bitter leaf plants are useful in the
treatment of fever, jaundice, constipation,
malaria, hiccups, kidney problems,
schistosomiasis, cough, wounds, veneral
diseases and other bacterial and protozoal
infection according to an article in the
malaria and chemotherapy control. Also
See The Medicinal Benefits of Zobo Drink
5. Bitter Leaf Anti-Diabetic Properties
A research published in the American
journal of Biochemistry and biotechnology
reported that bitter leaf tea is very useful
in the reduction of blood glucose , as such
bitter leaf tea is a very useful plant in the
management of diabetes and other blood
sugar related conditions. Blood sugar
lowering effect of Bitter leaf have been
confirmed by another study published in
the Phytotherapy Research. The study
reported that aqueous leaf extract of the
plant, produced a maximum lowering of
blood sugar in fasted normal and
alloxanized rabbits. The hypoglycaemic
effects produced by bitter leaf were
comparable with those of tolbutamide a
first-generation potassium channel blocker
and sulfonylurea oral hypoglycemic
medication. Click Here to See How To Make
Bitter Leaf Tea
6. Bitter leaf juice improves infertility and
boost breastmilk
The detoxification capabilities of bitter leaf
juice and bitter leaf tea boost fertility by
aiding the detoxification work carried out
by the liver and the kidneys. It has been
reported that the frequent use of bitter leaf
plant extracts significantly affects the
production of female sex hormones
especially estrogen.Estrogen a very
important fertility hormone which helps to
stop ovulation during pregnancy is
eliminated in the liver which is also
responsible for balancing all reproductive
hormones. A balanced hormone profile
increases the chances of fertilization and
conception. In addition bitter leaf plant
also improves production of quality breast
milk in breastfeeding mothers. See The 5
Simple Ways To Get Your Man to Last Longer
Naturally
7. Bitter Leaf and Pregnancy
A major health benefit of bitter leaf is its
ability to significantly boost a woman’s
chances of getting pregnant. Apart from the
hormone balancing act , the detoxification
work of bitter leaf help prevent the
pollution of the antibodies that helps the
body fight disease and initiate tissue repair
and regeneration. This can significantly
boost the fertility of the ovaries and also
eliminate ovarian cysts and premature
ovarian failure. Bitter leafs are also known
to correct abnormal or irregular
menstruation which is a sign of anovulation
and hormonal imbalance.
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