PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA LINN FRUIT EXTRACTS

Abstract

Momordica charantia or bitter melon, also known as balsam pear or karela, is a tropical vegetable and common food in Indian cuisine that has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. As mentioned in Ayurveda it is also used as an abortifacient, anthelmintic, contraceptive, eczema, antimalarial, galactagogue, gout, jaundice, abdominal pain, kidney (stone), laxative, leprosy, leucorrhea, piles, pneumonia, psoriasis, purgative, rheumatism, fever and scabies. It is mention as anthelmintic and use in krimiroga as per ayurveda although no more work done on extracts of Momordica charantia. In this works anthelmintic activity of methanolic and water extracts were checked on earth worms Eisenia foetida. Also the successive extraction petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and hydroalchoholic extracts were checked at concentration 5mg/mL and 10mg/mL. Methanolic and water extract shows death time at 139 min and 152 min respectively at 10 mg/mL dose. While in successive extraction chloroform extract was showed more potent activities than any other fractions. Activity is probably due to presence of alkaloids and steroidal triterpenoids present in it. Hence the anthelmintic activities of Momordica charantia is proved as per mentioned in Ayurveda further need to isolate the compound which is responsible for it.