Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY DETERMINATION OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA

Naeem Hasan Khan*, Amy Teh Sze Lin and Nabila Perveen

ABSTRACT

Momordica charantia is commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd, with Ayurveda name: karela.[1] It is found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, distributed in Asian countries and widely cultivated as a vegetable crop. All parts of the plant including the fruit, taste is bitter.[2] However, it is a common food and remedy as folk medicine to treat different disease, used in tropical region such as China, India, Africa and Southern East Asia.[1-3] Momordica charantia is cultivated up to an altitude of 1500m during warm in April to July by using 2-3 seeds in a pit. Only one plant is retained and seedlings are watered once or twice a week. Plants begin to flower 30-35 days after sowing and the fruits are ready for harvesting 15-20 days after flowering.[4] Momordica charantia is commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd, with Ayurveda name: karela.[1,7] It is found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, distributed in Asian countries and widely cultivated as a vegetable crop.[2,7] All parts of the plant including the fruit taste bitter.[2] It is a flowering vine in the family Cucurbitaceae.[2]

Keywords: .