Phytochemical screening and total antioxidant potential of Momordica charantia extract

Abstract

Medicinal plants, known for their accessibility and cost-effectiveness, have a historical track record as therapeutic sources. Today, there's increasing awareness regarding the overuse and misuse of synthetic drugs. Efforts worldwide aim to explore and document ethnomedicinal wisdom and scientific research on medicinal plants. Throughout history, plants and herbal remedies have served as medicinal solutions, and recent research has validated many traditional claims about their therapeutic properties. This study aimed to measure the total phenolic and flavonoid content and evaluate antioxidant activity in Momordica extracts. Soxhlet extraction was employed to prepare the extracts, resulting in varying yields. Qualitative phytochemical analysis identified alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides in the extracts. Among the solvents used, aqueous extracts displayed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content and significant DPPH radical scavenging activity. In conclusion, Momordica extracts represent abundant sources of natural antioxidants, with their properties varying depending on the solvent employed.