Nutrient and phytochemical analysis of four varieties of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) grown in chittagong hill tracts, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) were analyzed for their major nutrient contents as well as Vitamin C, minerals and phytochemical constituents. The selected varieties were Charantia C.B. Clarke, Muricata (Willd.), Hybrid green and Hybrid white karala. The result revealed the presence of nutrient constituent among the varieties comprising Total sugar (0.114±0.01% to 0.22±0.02%), Starch (0.74±0.01% to 5.3±0.04%), Total protein (1.17±0.01% to 2.4±0.02%), Fat (0.3±0.02 to 0.8±0.02%) and Vitamin C (9.41±0.26 to 13±0.57mg%). This vegetable is good source of minerals such as Mg, Ca, S and Cu. The fruits contained calcium (0.55±0.30 to 7.0±0.25 mg%) and sulpher (44.9±0.38 to 72.4±0.51 ppm). All the varieties were found to contain tannin, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, triterpin and sterol, resin, amino acid and phenolic compounds except coumarin and free anthraquinone. Based on the findings from this study, bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), although a bitter known vegetables but has enormous nutritional potentials. © 2011 Knowledgia Review, Malaysia.