The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2020;9(6):445-448 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2020.9611

Research Article

In vitro Assessment of Cytotoxic Activity of Hybrid Variety of Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd)

Md. Ehsan Uddin Talukder¹ , Farhana Momen¹ , Rashu Barua^1,2 , Samsad Sultana¹ , Farhana Yesmin³ , Mohammad Sayedul Islam¹ , Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan⁴

Md. Ehsan Uddin Talukder,Farhana Momen,Rashu Barua,Samsad Sultana,Farhana Yesmin,Mohammad Sayedul Islam,Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan

1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh
2. Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya466-0065, Japan
3. Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya-466-0065, Japan
4. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong4331, Bangladesh

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 21st November, 2020 / Accepted: 12th December, 2020

Abstract

Momordica charantia (Family: Cucurbitaceae), commonly referred to as Bitter Gourd, Karela, and balsam pear, is a very familiar vegetable of Bangladesh and has long been used in traditional medicine to cure numerous illnesses. Three different extracts of a selected hybrid variety of M. charantia fruit from Bangladesh were prepared and screened to assess cytotoxic activity using the brine shrimp lethality test (BST). Gallic acid was used as a positive control. The LC50 value of standard gallic acid, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether extract from the fruits of Momordica charantia L. found 4.40 µg/ml, 125.89 µg/ml, 146.49 µg/ml, and 194.2 µg/ml, respectively. The ethanol extract demonstrated a prominent cytotoxic activity in comparison with the moderate cytotoxic activity of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extract. The study results support the predominant presence of cytotoxic bioactive compounds in the more polar solvent of the fruit extract which can be beneficial for our health because of the numerous pharmacological activities of these compounds.