EXTRACTION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPONENTS FROM THE

FRUIT OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA AND EVALUATION OF ITS

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY
1
ABHINAY THAKRE, 2VAIBHAV DEORE, 3SAYALI GAIKWAD, 4SAYALI KAWADE
1
M.Tech, 2,3,4B.Tech

Abstract- Momordica charantia, commonly used in Indian sub-continent known for its medicinal properties. It belongs to
the family of cucurbitaceae and widely used against many diseases since ancient times. The aim of this study was to extract
the phytochemical compounds of bitter melon and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity. Extraction of polyphenolic
compounds was carried out using phytochemical screening which shows presence of different compounds such as
flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins, and terpenoids. The highest amount estimated from the ultra-sonication
extraction was found to be 12.83mg for water extract. The antimicrobial Momordica charantia fruit extracted in different
solvents such as methanol, ethanol, distilled water, chloroform, n-hexane, heptane, against various bacterial species like
Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, were tested using well diffusion method.
The maximum antimicrobial activities were observed for methanol and n-heptane extracts. M.charantia plant extract along
with methanol and n-heptane can be used as an effective antimicrobial agent.

Index terms- Antimicrobial activity, Momordica Charantia, Phytochemical Compounds

I. INTRODUCTION II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Momordica charantia originated on the Indian Collection of Vegetable

subcontinent which is also called as bitter melon,
balsam pear or karela. It is a tropical vegetable, a
common food in Indian, cuisine and extensively used
as medicinal remedy for many diseases, specifically
for diabetes. It belongs to the family of cucurbitaceae.
All parts of the plant including the fruit taste bitter.
The immature fruits are eaten as vegetable and are
good source of vitamin c, vitamin A, phosphorous and
iron. Fruits and seeds of bitter gourd possess
medicinal property such as anti-HIV, anti-ulcer, anti-
inflammatory, anti-leukemic, anti-microbial, anti-
tumor, and last but not the least the important anti
diabetic property. Although the different parts of the
plants of bitter gourd are used as food and drug, but
the fruit is most important part of the plant.
The present report gives an account of the
antimicrobial effect of Momordica charantia. It has
been seen that it has strong antimicrobial activity
against wide range of gram positive and gram
negative bacterias. As the Momordica charantia fruit
contains many important phytochemicals, the
emphasis of the present study has given to the use of
it as a remedy for inhibition of various pathogenic
bacterias. In present study phytochemical components
of Momordica charantia were extracted using two
methods Maceration and Ultra-sonication with
various solvents viz. chloroform, methanol, N-hexane,
N-heptane, ethanol and water. The yield of extraction
was used to check antimicrobial activity of various
extracts on pathogenic strength as E.coli ,S.aureus,
Bacillus subtilis, K.neumoniae, were examined.
Fruits of Momordica charantia were obtained from
local parts of pune region, India. The fruits were
brought to the laboratory rinsed with water, were cut
into small circular shapes, then dried and crushed to
small pieces using pastel and mortar and further finely
powered in an electric grinder. 4 g of powder was
mixed with 40 ml of different solvents and different
extracts were prepared. (Aqueous extract, ethanol
extract, methanol extract, n-hexane extract, n-heptane
extract and chloroform extract)
Two methods were used for obtaining plant extract
were
1) Maceration
2) ultra-sonication
1) Maceration: In maceration the prepared powder of
M. charantia fruit was kept in contact with solvent at
300C and 120 rpm for 36 hrs. in a stoppered container
until the soluble matter is dissolved. After the
extraction, extract with solvent is collected and
evaporated using rotary evaporator.
2) Ultra-sonication: ultrasound has a potential benefit
in the extraction and isolation of novel potentially
bioactive compounds. The irradiation of liquid sample
with ultrasonic waves results in agitation. The
solvents were mixed with powder and kept for
extraction, the caps of the bottles were slightly loose.
In this method due to high frequency ultrasound the
solvents gets heated and extraction takes place. After
the extraction the obtained extract was stored in petri
dishes overnight until it gets solidified. The obtained

Proceedings of IRF International Conference, 30th March-2014, Pune, India, ISBN: 978-93-82702-69-6
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 Extraction of Phytochemical Components from the Fruit of Momordica Charantia and Evaluation of Its Antimicrobial Activity

extract was mixed with DMSO and stored for further
use.
B) Screening of phytochemical components.
Phytochemical components were analyzed
qualitatively.
C) Antibacterial activity assay
Screening of antibacterial activity assay was carried
out using well diffusion method. A loop full of
different Bacterial Strains were inoculated in 30 ml of
nutrient broths in a conical flask and incubated for 72
hrs. to get active strain by using agar well diffusion
method. Nutrient agar was poured into petri dishes.
After solidification 0.50 ml of test strains were
inoculated in the media separately.
The experiment was performed under strict aseptic
conditions. After the medium in petri dishes solidified
wells were made using a sterile borer. The extract
compound was introduced into the well and plates
were incubated at 370C for 24 hrs. All samples were
tested in triplicates. Antimicrobial activity was
determined by measuring the diameter of zone of
inhibition. For control ampicillin was used as a
standard antibiotic for all test strains.
Table 1.
Results of qualitative analysis of phytochemical components
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
In the present study M. charantia fruit extract was
studied for its antimicrobial activity and screening of
its phytochemical compounds. The results revealed
the presence of different bioactive compounds present
in M. charantia. Also qualitatively analysis of
different phytochemical compounds using different
extracts were carried out as the results are shown in
table 1
IV. ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY:
Different strains such as E.coli, S.aureus, Bacillus
subtilis, K. Pneumonia were used to analyse the
antimicrobial activity of M. charantia. Further
antimicrobial activity was also checked at different
concentration (40µl,80µl,120µl).
The maximum antimicrobial activity was observed for
methanol extract against K.pneumoniae. The results
for antimicrobial activity are shown in table 2 and
table 3.

Table 2.
Antimicrobial activity analysis of different solvent extract zone of inhibition (mean diameter in mm)

Proceedings of IRF International Conference, 30th March-2014, Pune, India, ISBN: 978-93-82702-69-6
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 Extraction of Phytochemical Components from the Fruit of Momordica Charantia and Evaluation of Its Antimicrobial Activity
Table 3
Antimicrobial activity analysis of different solvent extract zone of inhibition for different concentration (mean diameter in mm)

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[3] Taylor L. (2000) Technical Data Report for Bitter Melon [6] Ejoba Raphael, 2012. Global Advanced Research Journal
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