Assessment of pharmacognostic parameters and antioxidant potential of bitter melon or karela (Momordica charantia L.) fruits by DPPH method

The aim of the present study was to investigate the different pharmacognostic parameters and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the fruits of Momordica charantia L. by the DPPH method. Aqueous, ethanol, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of the Momordica charantia L. fruits were prepared and subjected to determine physical constants and phytochemical screening (Qualitative Chemical Tests), which revealed the details of loss on drying, ash values, extractive values, fluorescence analysis and presence of phytoconstituents such as carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, terpenoids, glycosides, flavonoids, and lipids. The antioxidant activity of the Momordica charantia L. fruit extracts was also determined by the DPPH method using ascorbic acid as standard. The results obtained in this study support the use of Momordica charantia L. in herbal medicine and it can be used as a potent antioxidant in the treatment of many diseases resulting from more reactive oxygen species (ROS) presence.