Therapeutic Properties of Bitter Leaf

Bitter leaf (vernonia amygdalina) is a popular plant that is native to sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. It is a versatile vegetable that can be found in a variety of cuisines, especially cultural soups.

Research suggests that bitter leaf can be utilized to treat cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. This therapeutic effect is made possible by several bioactive chemicals in the bitter leaf.

Hypertension

Hypertension is a condition in which the pressure in the arterial walls is consistently too high. As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump blood which can result in major complications such as cardiovascular disease and eventually heart failure.

Flavonoids are one of the bioactive chemicals found in bitter leaves. It is a vasorelaxant, which aids in the maintenance of normal blood vessel pressure.

Cancer

Cancer is a condition in which some of the body's cells proliferate and spread to other sections of the body. It is caused by damaged DNA that cannot be removed by the body.

Bitter leaf, as previously indicated in the hypertension section, is high in flavonoids. Apart from being a vasorelaxant, flavonoids are also antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals, which produces oxidative stress; it can also combat chronic inflammation. Both of these conditions in the body can harm the DNA in our cells, potentially leading to cancer.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by a high concentration of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia). It is caused by pancreatic cell death, which leads to β-cell destruction in the Islet of Langerhans. Hence, this results in low or no insulin secretion in the pancreas.

Studies show that bitter leaf has the ability to regenerate pancreatic β-cells which ultimately results in pancreatic tissue repair. This activity enhances insulin secretion which is key to manage glucose levels in our blood.

Overweightness

Bitter leaf enhances metabolism which is the body’s primary way of burning excess fat in the body. Good metabolism is why people do not gain weight or find it easier to lose weight.

How I consume Bitter Leaf

Bitter leaf can be prepared and eaten in a variety of ways. If you are Nigerian, bitter leaf is most likely a part of your diet. It is commonly used in African soups as well as green leafy vegetable meals.

Personally, I went a step further to incorporate bitter leaf fruit juice into my diet. Basically, I blend together watermelon, strawberries, pineapple, and berries with about five individual bitter leaves. Blending with fruits helps to alleviate the bitter taste.

Conclusion

For years, modern medicine has managed to effectively treat a variety of health conditions primarily with medications and lifestyle changes. However, as more people embrace and inform themselves of naturopathy, nutrition is becoming a more popular method of managing the body’s health.

Bitter leaf is recognized for its ability to help treat major and minor health issues such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and weight gain. This is made possible by its bioactive components, which have been shown to inhibit negative cellular activity in the blood. To improve your health, include bitter leaf in your diet.

Disclaimer: This post was written by Jennifer Anyanwu, B.S. in Nursing (Registered Nurse) and a B.S in Nutrition and Dietetics. Ifediora Nutrition does not intend to outlaw or oppose modern medicine. Never disregard medical treatment or attempt to cure yourself of an illness based on the information presented in this article. Always work with a licensed or certified health professional like myself, to make informed decisions about using alternative medicine to treat a medical diagnosis.

References

Great Iruoghene Edo, Princess Oghenekeno Samuel et. al, (2023). Biological and bioactive components of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina leaf): Insight on health and nutritional benefits. A review. Food Chemistry Advances. Volume 3, 2023 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X2300309X)

Hypertension

Alivia et. al, (2022, August 3). Utilization of African Leaves (Vernonia amygdalina) to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A systemic review. International Journal of Biomedical Nursing Review 2022, Volume 1, 52–57

Ch’ng, Y. S. et al. (2017) ‘Vasorelaxant properties of Vernonia amygdalina ethanol extract and its possible mechanism’, Pharmaceutical Biology, 55(1), pp. 2083–2094. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1357735.

Dina Maaliki, Abdullah A Shaito, et. al, Flavonoids in hypertension: a brief review of the underlying mechanisms, Current Opinion in Pharmacology, Volume 45, 2019, Pages 57-65, ISSN 1471-4892

Cancer

What Is Cancer? (2021, October 11). National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

Adedapo, A. A., Aremu, O. J., & Oyagbemi, A. A. (2014). Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the acetone leaf extract of vernonia amygdalina in some laboratory animals. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin, 4(Suppl 2), 591–598. https://doi.org/10.5681/apb.2014.087

Joseph, J., Lim, V., Rahman, H. S., Othman, H. H., & Samad, N. A. (2020, November 20). Anti-cancer effects of Vernonia amygdalina: A systematic review. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 19(8), 1775–1784. https://doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v19i8.29

Diabetes

Asante, D. B., & Wiafe, G. A. (2023). Therapeutic Benefit of Vernonia amygdalina in the Treatment of Diabetes and Its Associated Complications in Preclinical Studies. Journal of diabetes research, 2023, 3159352. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3159352