ANTIDIABETIC PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL EXTRACTS FROM MOMORDICA CHARANTIA SEEDS: PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND ENZYME INHIBITION
Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus, Momordica charantia, Antidiabetic properties, α-amylase and α- glucosidase inhibition, Ethanol extract, antioxidant activity, and pancreatic protection.Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia,
which necessitates the continuous search for effective and safe therapeutic agents. Momordica
charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, has been traditionally used for its medicinal
properties, including antidiabetic effects.
Aim: This study investigates the antidiabetic properties of ethanol extracts from Momordica
charantia seeds through in vitro approaches
Methods: Dry Seeds of ripe Momordica charantia were manually separated from their pericarp.
The dried seeds were blended using an electric grinder and then passed through a 60-mesh sieve
to obtain a uniform particle size. The Momordica charantia seeds product was defatted using n
hexane by stirring at room temperature for 1 h and soaked with n-hexane for 72 h, the mixture was
filtered using sterile filter paper. The defatted seed product was dried under a hood at ambient
temperature to remove the trace of the remaining n-hexane. The filtrate was then further soaked
with ethanol for 72 h, the mixture was filtered using sterile filter paper, and the extract was further
concentrated using a water bath set at 50 °C. The ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia seeds
was evaluated for its potential to inhibit key enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism,
including α-amylase and α-glucosidase, glucose uptake and glucose adsorption.
Results: The phytochemical showed the detection of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids,
glycosides, phenols, phytate, and triterpene. The ethanol extract of Momordica charantia seeds
showed significant inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, glucose uptake and glucose adsorption
activities, with IC50 values comparable to standards such as acarbose and metformin.
Conclusion: The ethanol extract of Momordica charantia seeds exhibits promising antidiabetic
properties through multiple mechanisms, including enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activity.
