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Dietary supplement

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Zazzee Naturals

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract is a dietary supplement by Zazzee Naturals with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for blood sugar support, diabetes, digestive complaints.Based on those ingredients, 282 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bitter Melon Fruit Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: bitter melon fruit extract in a concentrated 25:1 form, meaning the extract is 25 times more potent than the raw fruit. The other contents are cellulose, rice powder, magnesium stearate, and silica — these are inactive ingredients that help form and stabilize the capsule.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Bitter Melon's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: support healthy cardiovascular function and blood sugar.
  • We looked for evidence on: Diabetes, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Blood glucose control, Cardiovascular health — and 1 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Bitter Melon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Diabetes (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bitter Melon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Obesity, Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes), Metabolic syndrome.

The evidence we hold does not establish that bitter melon is effective for the conditions it is commonly marketed for — amenorrhea (absent menstruation), athletic performance, liver disease, constipation, diabetes, or indigestion. All of these ratings show insufficient reliable evidence to make a solid claim.

If you're considering this supplement for a specific health goal, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about what the research actually shows.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bitter Melon

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Bitter melon taken by mouth is generally well tolerated, but supplement amounts — especially higher doses — can lower your blood sugar and cause stomach upset. The most common side effects reported in studies are gastrointestinal: heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and belly discomfort, occurring in roughly 3 to 16 percent of people who take it.

Rarely, very low blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma) or seizures in children have been reported. One case described a person who developed kidney inflammation after taking bitter melon extract at high doses for several months; her kidney function recovered once she stopped.

Bitter melon is traditionally avoided in pregnancy because the seeds and high doses may cause uterine contractions or other harmful effects. There isn't enough reliable safety data to recommend it while breastfeeding — talk with your doctor or pharmacist before use if you're pregnant or nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bitter Melon

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bitter Melon.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 282 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check your medications against this product if you take antidiabetes drugs (risk of low blood sugar), pazopanib for cancer, or any P-glycoprotein substrate medications — a large and varied class. Your pharmacist can run your full list through the interaction checker on this page to be sure.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This product is for someone interested in bitter melon's traditional use, but the evidence for its effectiveness isn't established in our data. If you take any diabetes medication, a cancer drug like pazopanib, or any P-glycoprotein substrate (ask your pharmacist), you should check your exact medications with the tool below before starting.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? Talk with your pharmacist first.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand Zazzee Naturals
Barcode (UPC) X00327A5OT
Net contents 150 Veggie Cap(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2024
DSLD ID 318707
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating), Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Veggie Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Veggie Capsule(s)
Servings per container
150
UPC/BARCODE
X00327A5OT
IngredientAmount% DV
Bitter Melon Fruit Extract360 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Rice, Powder, Magnesium Stearate, Silica

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: Take 1 capsule once daily, preferably with food, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Formula

Zazzee Naturals Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract is an all-natural herbal supplement commonly used to support healthy cardiovascular function and healthy blood sugar levels already within the normal range. For maximum potency, our Bitter Melon is standardized to a minimum of 10% Bitter Principles and is made from a concentrated 25:1 extract.

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract 9000mg Strength Standardized to min. 10% bitter principles

Precautions

Warnings: For adults only. Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing. Consult physician if taking medication (including insulin and oral diabetic medications) or have a medical condition.

Do not eat freshness packet.

Allergen Information: Not manufactured with wheat, corn, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Formulation

Natural color variation may occur in this product.

Supports healthy blood sugar levels Supports healthy cardiovascular function

Allergen Information: Not manufactured with wheat, corn, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients.

Made with non GMO ingredients

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Do not eat freshness packet. Keep in bottle.

General Statements

Please recycle.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Good Manufacturing Practice GMP Consistent Quality Made in USA

See for yourself

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Veggie Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container150 Amounts shown are per serving.

Bitter Melon Fruit Extract

Interacts with
282 drugs
360 mg per serving

Bitter melon is a tropical fruit eaten as food and used in traditional medicine, most often for blood sugar control. While some small studies hint it...

Bitter Melon Fruit Extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Rice, Powder, Magnesium Stearate, Silica. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
282Drugs
282 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bitter Melon Fruit Extract3 drug types · 282 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Taking bitter melon with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Bitter melon can lower blood glucose levels and might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs. This might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. Monitor blood glucose levels closely.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
P-Glycoprotein Substrates

Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of P-glycoprotein substrates.
Bitter melon might inhibit the p-glycoprotein (P-gp) intestinal pump and increase intracellular levels of P-gp substrates. In vitro research in intestinal cells shows that 1-monopalmitin, a constituent of bitter melon, increases levels of daunomycin, a P-gp substrate. Additionally, drinking bitter melon juice has been associated with a case of acute pancreatitis in a patient who had been taking pazopanib, a P-gp substrate, for 8 years. Researchers theorize that inhibition of P-gp led to increased levels of pazopanib, resulting in pazopanib-induced pancreatitis.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Pazopanib (Votrient)

Theoretically, bitter melon might increase levels of pazopanib, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects.
In one case, a 65-year-old patient taking pazopanib for 8 years for renal cell carcinoma experienced signs and symptoms consistent with acute pancreatitis 4 days after drinking bitter melon juice at a dose of 100-150 mL daily. The patient's symptoms, amylase levels, and lipase levels improved upon discontinuation of bitter melon and pazopanib. Pazopanib treatment was re-initiated with no further evidence of pancreatitis. Researchers theorize that inhibition of P-glycoprotein by bitter melon led to increased levels of pazopanib, a P-glycoprotein substrate, resulting in pazopanib-induced pancreatitis.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract, from the product label.

Zazzee Naturals

See all Zazzee Naturals products
Name
Zazzee Naturals
Street Address
400 Rella Blvd Ste 123 Box 182
City
Montebello
State
NY
Web Address
ZazzeeNaturals.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals: Common Questions

Does Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract by Zazzee Naturals interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract has a known interaction with 282 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What does bitter melon extract actually do?
Bitter melon can lower blood sugar levels, which is why it's used traditionally for diabetes and other conditions. However, the evidence we hold doesn't establish that it's effective for the conditions it's commonly marketed for — including diabetes itself. The strongest research gap is there.
Will this lower my blood sugar if I'm not diabetic?
Yes, bitter melon can lower blood sugar on its own. If you don't have diabetes or aren't at risk for low blood sugar, this is less of a concern — but it's something to be aware of, especially if you haven't eaten or if you exercise a lot.
What are the most common side effects?
Gastrointestinal upset is most common: heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and belly discomfort. These occurred in about 3 to 16 percent of people in studies. Dizziness, fatigue, and headache have also been reported.
Is it safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Bitter melon is traditionally avoided in pregnancy because the seeds and high doses may cause harmful effects like uterine contractions. There isn't enough reliable safety data to recommend it while breastfeeding either. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're in either situation.
Can I take this with my diabetes medication?
Not without careful monitoring. Bitter melon lowers blood sugar on its own, so taking it with diabetes drugs increases your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you want to try it, your doctor or pharmacist needs to help you monitor your blood glucose closely and may need to adjust your medication.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Extra Strength Bitter Melon 25:1 Extract's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 18 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bitter Melon 18 references
  1. Leatherdale B, Panesar RK, Singh G, et al. Improvement in glucose tolerance due to Momordica charantia. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981;282:1823-4.
  2. Welihinda J, et al. Effect of Momordica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:277-82. PubMed
  3. Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Verma Y, et al. Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytother Res 1993;7:285-9.
  4. Baldwa VS, Bhandari CM, Pangaria A, Goyal RK. Clinical trial in patients with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-like compound obtained from plant sources. Ups J Med Sci 1977;82:39-41. PubMed
  5. Aslam M, Stockley IH. Interaction between curry ingredient (karela) and drug (chlorpropamide). Lancet 1979:1:607. PubMed
  6. Ahmad N, Hassan MR, Halder H, Bennoor KS. Effect of Momordica charantia (Karolla) extracts on fasting and postprandial serum glucose levels in NIDDM patients (abstract). Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 1999;25:11-3.
  7. Basch E, Gabardi S, Ulbricht C. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): a review of efficacy and safety. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2003;60:356-9. PubMed
  8. Yin RV, Lee NC, Hirpara H, Phung OJ. T. The effect of bitter melon (Mormordica charantia) in patients with diabetes mellitus: s systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. 2014;4:e145.
  9. Rahman IU, Khan RU, Rahman KU, Bashir M. Lower hypoglycemic but higher antiatherogenic effects of bitter melon than glibenclamide in type 2 diabetic patients. Nutr J. 2015;14:13. PubMed
  10. Alam MA, Uddin R, Subhan N, Rahman MM, Jain P, Reza HM. Beneficial role of bitter melon supplementation in obesity and related complications in metabolic syndrome. J Lipids. 2015;2015:496169. PubMed
  11. Konishi T, Satsu H, Hatsugai Y, et al. Inhibitory effect of a bitter melon extract on the P-glycoprotein activity in intestinal Caco-2 cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2004;143(3):379-87. PubMed
  12. Peter EL, Kasali FM, Deyno S, et al. Momordica charantia L. lowers elevated glycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2019;231:311-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.10.033. PubMed
  13. Cortez-Navarrete M, Martínez-Abundis E, Pérez-Rubio KG, González-Ortiz M, Méndez-Del Villar M. Momordica charantia administration improves insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Med Food. 2018;21(7):672-7. doi: 10.108
  14. Kim SK, Jung J, Jung JH, et al. Hypoglycemic efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Aug;52:102524. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102524. PubMed
  15. Unsal O, Sütcüoglu O, Yazici O. Dangerous interaction of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) with pazopanib: a case of acute pancreatitis. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2022;28(2):486-8.
  16. Bae W, Kim S, Choi J, et al. Acute interstitial nephritis associated with ingesting a Momordica charantia extract: a case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021;100(27):e26606. PubMed
  17. Chattopadhyay K, Wang H, Kaur J, et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Ayurvedic Medicines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:821810. Published 2022 Jun 8. PubMed
  18. Kim B, Lee HS, Kim HJ, et al. Momordica charantia (bitter melon) efficacy and safety on glucose metabolism in Korean prediabetes participants: a 12-week, randomized clinical study. Food Sci Biotechnol 2022;32(5):697-704. PubMed

See these in context on the Bitter Melon monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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