Debittered bitter gourd juice was subjected to gamma irradiation doses of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2.5 kGy and thermal pasteurization at temperatures of 65, 75, 85 and 95 degrees C. Shigella boydii was the most heat resistant pathogen tested (D-10 of 42.8 s at 65 degrees C) while Bacillus cereus was the most resistant pathogen to irradiation with a D-10 of 0.46 kGy. No significant (p < 0.05) effect of thermal pasteurization was observed on antidiabetic (alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition) activity, however, a 10% increase in alpha-glucosidase inhibition was observed in irradiated (2.5 kGy) samples. A significant (p < 0.05) but marginal reduction (up to 10%) was observed in antidiabetic activity during storage for a period of 90 days. Thermal pasteurization at 65 degrees C demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) higher sensory quality as compared to irradiated (2.5 kGy) samples. This is first report on effect of pasteurization on antidiabetic activity of bitter gourd juice.