Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF INDIGENOUS MOMORDICA CHARANTIA FRUITS

Muhammad Yeasin Arafat, Md. Abdul Mannan*, Md. Khairul Alam, Mahamudul Hasan Bhuiyan, Md. Shifat Hossain, Md. Ahsan Habib, Md. Akram Hossain, Md. Wasif Iqbal

Abstract

Momordica charantia L., commonly known as bitter gourd or bitter melon, is an important indigenous medicinal and edible plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. The plant has a long history of traditional use in various systems of medicine, particularly in the management of metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal complaints, infections, inflammation, and other health conditions. The therapeutic importance of M. charantia has been associated with the presence of diverse biologically active primary and secondary metabolites. The present study was undertaken to investigate the preliminary phytochemical constituents of methanolic extracts of indigenous Momordica charantia fruits, with the broader intent of providing scientific evidence for the medicinal potential of this locally available plant resource. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted using standard chemical tests for major groups of phytoconstituents. The results demonstrated the presence of a broad range of phytochemical classes in the investigated extracts. Alkaloids were detected by Mayer's, Wagner's, Dragendorff's, and Hager's tests. Carbohydrates showed positive reactions in Molisch's, Benedict's, and Fehling's tests. Glycosides were detected by Modified Borntrager's and Legal's tests, while saponins produced positive results in the froth and foam tests. Phytosterols were detected by Salkowski's and Liebermann–Burchard's tests. Phenolic compounds were identified using the ferric chloride test. In addition, tannins were detected by the gelatin test, whereas flavonoids gave positive reactions in the alkaline reagent and lead acetate tests. Proteins and amino acids were also detected through Xanthoproteic and Ninhydrin tests. Collectively, these findings indicate that the investigated M. charantia material contains several chemically diverse classes of phytoconstituents, including alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, phytosterols, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, proteins, and amino acids. The observed phytochemical diversity is consistent with previous investigations reporting the occurrence of multiple bioactive constituents in different parts of M. charantia. Earlier studies have identified phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, glycosides, terpenoids, cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, and other metabolites in M. charantia. The detection of these constituents provides a plausible phytochemical basis for several biological activities reported for the plant, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and cytotoxic effects. However, preliminary qualitative screening only establishes the probable presence or absence of broad phytochemical groups and does not determine the exact chemical identity, concentration, purity, or pharmacological potency of individual compounds. The present findings therefore support the ethnomedicinal importance of indigenous M. charantia and demonstrate its potential as a source of biologically active natural products. The study also provides a preliminary scientific foundation for subsequent quantitative phytochemical investigations, chromatographic profiling, isolation and identification of individual bioactive compounds, and evaluation of specific pharmacological activities. Further research using standardized extraction procedures and advanced analytical techniques such as HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and NMR is recommended to establish the detailed phytochemical profile of the indigenous plant material. Overall, the findings suggest that M. charantia fruits and associated plant materials represent a promising natural source of diverse phytochemicals with potential applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and traditional medicine research.

Keywords: Momordica charantia; Bitter melon; Indigenous medicinal plant; Phytochemical screening; Methanolic extract; Alkaloids; Flavonoids; Phenolic compounds; Saponins; Glycosides.