Structure determination, bitterness evaluation and hepatic gluconeogenesis inhibitory activity of triterpenoids from the Momordica charantia fruit

[Display omitted] •18 triterpenoids including two new ones were isolated from bitter melon.•The bitterness of all isolated compounds was evaluated.•Four triterpenoids displayed hepatic gluconeogenesis inhibitory activities.•Hypoglycemic activity of triterpenoids was not correlated with its bitterness. Triterpenoids are hypoglycemic substances and flavor components of Momordica charantia L., whether their bitterness correlated with hypoglycemic potential remain unknown. Thus, triterpenoids in M. charantia were isolated by phytochemical methods and identified by spectroscopic analysis. The bitterness levels and hypoglycaemic activity of isolated triterpenoids were evaluated by electronic tongue and hepatic gluconeogenesis assay. Eighteen triterpenoids including two new ones, Momordicoside Y and Z, were identified. Among the six identified bitter triterpenoids, karaviloside III, goyaglycoside C, and momordicoside F2 were bitterer than caffeine (P