Comparative Phytochemical Screening and In vitro Evaluation of Biological Activities between Aqueous and Ethanolic Extract of Momordica charantia L. Fruits

Aims: The study was conducted to compare the presence of different phytochemicals and biological activities like cytotoxicity, anthelmintic activity, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities between aqueous and ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia L. Fruits.
Methodology: The cytotoxic assay was undertaken using brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) while the anthelmintic activity was carried out with the determination of time of paralysis and death of earthworm (Pheritima posthuma) at five different concentrations. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities were measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) method and determining the total phenolic contents.
Results: Study revealed that several phytochemicals were found common for both of the extracts, though proteins and amino acids were only found in ethanolic extract. Both the extracts showed mild cytotoxic activity where the ethanolic extract showed better potency (LC50=24.245 µg/ml) than aqueous extract (LC50=24.515 µg/ml). In case of anthelmintic activity, ethanolic extract was also found significantly potent than aqueous extract at five different concentrations. IC50 values for the total antioxidant activity were 304.41±0.903 µg/ml and 479.05±1.393 µg/ml for ethanolic and aqueous extract, respectively. Ethanolic extract contained a significantly higher concentration of total phenols (71.08 ± 0.380 mg of GAE/g of extract) in comparison to aqueous extract (57.33±0.520 mg of GAE/g of extract).
Conclusion: Therefore, in all aspects of the study, ethanolic extract was found more potent than aqueous extract. It can be concluded that M. charantia fruits are abundant of various phytochemicals and possess versatile biological activities.