Unveiling the Bioactive Phytochemicals of Momordica charantia Leaves and Their Antibacterial Effects

Muhammad Shehu Giwa; Basira Ibrahim; Fatima Musa; Emad M. Abdallah

doi:10.53941/jmnp.2024.100006

Abstract

Momordica charantia is widely cultivated in Zaria, Nigeria, and holds a prominent place in traditional medicine. Its leaves, fruits, and seeds are known to be rich in bioactive compounds and are commonly employed to treat various infections and diseases. This study aimed to investigate the bioactive components and antibacterial properties of methanolic leaf extracts and their fractions. Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, steroids, and terpenoids. The methanolic extract was fractionated into n-butanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform fractions. The methanolic extract exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to its fractions, suggesting potential synergistic effects among the plant’s constituents. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated using well-diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Salmonella typhi was the most susceptible bacterium, with zones of inhibition of 25.00 ± 0.10 mm, MIC of 12.5 ± 0.82 mg/mL, and MBC of 50 ± 0.22 mg/mL. This was followed by Escherichia coli (18.77 ± 0.25 mm, MIC: 50 ± 0.53 mg/mL, MBC: 100 ± 0.82 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (14.13 ± 0.91 mm, MIC: 50 ± 0.23 mg/mL, MBC: 100 ± 0.48 mg/mL). Among the fractions, the n-butanol fraction demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity. Subsequent analysis of this fraction using GC-MS identified key compounds, including 2-pentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-, n-amyl isovalerate, 2(5H)-furanone, 3,5,5-trimethyl-, furan, tetrahydro-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-, and 3-tetradecanol acetate. In conclusion, the methanolic extract followed by n-butanol fraction of M. charantia exhibited significant antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria such as S. typhi and E. coli. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for this activity.

References

1.
Abdallah, E.M.; Alhatlani, B.Y.; de Paula Menezes, R.; Martins, C.H.G. Back to Nature: Medicinal plants as promising sources for antibacterial drugs in the post-antibiotic era. Plants 2023, 12, 3077.
2.
Aparicio, H.; Hedberg, I.; Bandeira, S.; Ghorbani, A. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal and edible plants used in Nhamacoa area, Manica province–Mozambique. South Africa J. Bot. 2021, 139, 318–328.
3.
Noronha, M.; Pawar, V.; Prajapati, A.; Subramanian, R. A literature review on traditional herbal medicines for malaria. South Africa J. Bot. 2020, 128, 292–303.
4.
Sun, L.; Zhang, X.; Dong, L.; Zhang, C.; Guo, P.; Wu, C. The triterpenoids of the bitter gourd (Momordica Charantia) and their pharmacological activities: A review. J. Food Compos. Anal. 2021, 96, 103726.
5.
Salehi, B.; Fokou, P.V.T.; Sharifi-Rad, M.; Zucca, P.; Pezzani, R.; Martins, N.; Sharifi-Rad, J. The therapeutic potential of naringenin: A review of clinical trials. Pharmaceuticals 2019, 12, 11.
6.
Abdull Razis, A.F.; Ibrahim, M.D.; Kntayya, S.B. Health benefits of Moringa oleifera. Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev. 2014, 15, 8571–8576.
7.
Chinsembu, K. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal flora utilised by traditional healers in the management of sexually transmitted infections in Sesheke District, Western Province, Zambia. Rev. Bras. De Farmacogn. 2016, 26, 268–274.
8.
Oyelere, S.F.; Ajayi, O.H.; Ayoade, T.E.; Pereira, G.B.S.; Owoyemi, B.C.D.; Ilesanmi, A.O.; Akinyemi, O.A. A detailed review on the phytochemical profiles and anti-diabetic mechanisms of Momordica charantia. Heliyon 2022, 8, e09253.
9.
Parham, S.; Kharazi, A.Z.; Bakhsheshi-Rad, H.R.; Nur, H.; Ismail, A.F.; Sharif, S.; RamaKrishna, S.; Berto, F. Antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties of herbal materials. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 1309.
10.
Stéphane, F.F.Y.; Jules, B.K.J.; Batiha, G.E.-S.; Ali, I.; Bruno, L.N. Extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and herbs. In Natural Medicinal Plants; IntechOpen: London, UK, 2021; pp. 1–39.
11.
Ozdal, M.; Gurkok, S. Recent advances in nanoparticles as antibacterial agent. ADMET DMPK 2022, 10, 115–129.
12.
Huq, M.A.; Ashrafudoulla, M.; Rahman, M.M.; Balusamy, S.R.; Akter, S. Green synthesis and potential antibacterial applications of bioactive silver nanoparticles: A review. Polymers 2022, 14, 742.
13.
Abebe, E.; Gugsa, G.; Ahmed, M. Review on major food-borne zoonotic bacterial pathogens. J. Trop. Med. 2020, 2020, 4674235.
14.
Machina, F.M. Antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera methanolic leaves extracts against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates. Microbes Infect. Dis. 2022, 3, 199–208.
15.
Adamu, U.; Yushau, M.; Salisu, B.; Hussain, A.M. Phytochemical screening, antibacterial potentials and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) of Citrus sinensis leaves extracts. Microbes Infect. Dis. 2022, 3, 192–198.
16.
Bashir, M.; Ibrahim, A.; Bilyaminu, M.; Ali, R.i.; Isa, H.; Sambo, K.H.; Ishaq, I. Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of leaf and stem bark extracts of Adansonia digitata on E. coli, S. aureus and S. typhi. Microbes Infect. Dis. 2022, 3, 217–223.
17.
Gayathry, K.; John, J.A. A comprehensive review on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) as a gold mine of functional bioactive components for therapeutic foods. Food Prod. Process. Nutr. 2022, 4, 10.
18.
Sherekar, P. Antimicrobial agent from Plants and Herbs: A systemic Review. Res. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem. 2021, 13, 179–181.
19.
Khalid, Z.; Hassan, S.; Shahzad, S.; Khurram, H. A review on biological attributes of Momordica charantia. Adv Biosci Bioeng 2021, 9, 8–12.
20.
Hassan Cheong, N.D.; Zakaria, L.A.; Yusof, H. Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Properties of Momordica charantia Methanolic Extract Against Selected Bacterial Strains. Malays. J. Med. Health Sci. 2022, 18, 154–161.
21.
Talebi, M. Momordica charantia L. In Novel Drug Targets With Traditional Herbal Medicines: Scientific and Clinical Evidence; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2022; pp. 423–443.
22.
Zahan, S.; Uddin, S.N.; Hossain, M.K.; Mannan, A.B.; Rahman, M.; Chen, U.; Mazumder, T.; Uddin, A.M.; Arefin, S.; Hussain, M.S. Evaluation of phytochemical and pharmacological properties of seeds of Momordica charantia. Avicenna J. Phytomedicine 2020, 10, 448.
23.
Gultom, R.; Sjofjan, O.; Sudjarwo, E. Evaluation of Nutritional Content, Total Flavonoid Content, and Antibacterial Activity of Bitter melon (Momordica charantia). Int. J. Eng. Sci. 2020, 9, 33–36.
24.
Yusuf, A.; Abubakar, J.; Lawal, A. Phytochemicals Screening and Nutritional Profile of Cnidosculus aconitflius Leaves collected in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. Sch. Int. J. Biochem. 2022, 5, 85–89.
25.
Trease, G.; Evans, M. Text Book of Pharmacognosy, 13th ed.; Bailiere Tindall: London, UK, 1989; pp. 200–201.
26.
Muribeca, A.d.J.B.; Gomes, P.W.P.; Paes, S.S.; da Costa, A.P.A.; Gomes, P.W.P.; Viana, J.d.S.; Reis, J.D.E.; Pamplona, S.d.G.S.R.; Silva, C.; Bauermeister, A. Antibacterial Activity from Momordica charantia L. Leaves and Flavones Enriched Phase. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 1796.
27.
Doğaroğlu, Z.G.; Uysal, Y.; Çaylalı, Z.; Karakoç, G. Antibacterial and phytotoxicological properties assessment of Momordica charantia extract‐based ZnO nanoparticles. J. Sci. Food Agric. 2024, 104, 2851–2861.
28.
Abdallah, E.M. Antibacterial activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces against hospital isolates of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. J. Acute Dis. 2016, 5, 512–516.
29.
Dandekar, R.; Fegade, B.; Bhaskar, V. GC-MS analysis of phytoconstituents in alcohol extract of Epiphyllum oxypetalum leaves. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem. 2015, 4, 148–154.
30.
Khalid, Z.; Hassan, S.M.; Mughal, S.S.; Hassan, S.K.; Hassan, H. Phenolic Profile and Biological Properties of Momordica charantia. Chem. Biomol. Eng. 2021, 6, 17.
31.
Valizadeh, M.; Beigomi, M.; Fazeli-Nasab, B. Antibacterial and Anti biofilm effects of ethanol and aceton leaf extract of Momordica charantia and Tecomella undulata against Acinetobacter baumannii. Int. J. Adv. Biol. Biomed. Res. 2020, 8, 403–418.
32.
Rahmi, M.; Sari, T. Antibacterial activity of ethanol extract, n-hexan, ethyl acetate and butanol fraction of Momordica charantia L. seed against Staphylococcus epidermidis. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2021, 1918, 052013.
33.
Villarreal-La Torre, V.E.; Guarniz, W.S.; Silva-Correa, C.; Cruzado-Razco, L.; Siche, R. Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Momordica Charantia: A review. Pharmacogn. J. 2020, 12, 213–222.
34.
Mashiane, P.; Shoko, T.; Manhivi, V.; Slabbert, R.; Sultanbawa, Y.; Sivakumar, D. A Comparison of bioactive metabolites, antinutrients, and bioactivities of african pumpkin leaves (Momordica balsamina L.) cooked by different culinary techniques. Molecules 2022, 27, 1901.
35.
Lawrence, D.; Olusola-makinde, O. Biological activities of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn) ethanol extracts on bacteria associated with surface waters Akure, Nigeria. Microbes Infect. Dis. 2023, 4, 654–666.
36.
Borneleit, P.; Hermsdorf, T.; Claus, R.; Walther, P.; Kleber, H.-P. Effect of hexadecane-induced vesiculation on the outer membrane of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Microbiology 1988, 134, 1983–1992.
37.
Enitan, S.S.; Ojubanire, Z.A.; Oyedele, T.F. Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activities of Momordica charantia and Vernonia amygdalina extracts on some selected enteric isolates. TMR Modern Herb. Med. 2024, 7, 2.
38.
Shahrajabian, M.H.; Cheng, Q.; Sun, W. The most important medicinal herbs and plants in traditional Chinese and Iranian medicinal sciences with antioxidant activities. Lett. Drug Des. Discov. 2023, 20, 1171–1184.
39.
Abdallah, E.M.; Mujawah, A.A.; Al-Mijalli, S.H. GC-MS and Antibacterial Potential of Methanolic Extract Hyphaene Thebaica L. Fruit Pulp against Antibiotics-resistant Pathogens. J. Pure Appl. Microbiol. 2021, 15, 1655–1664.
40.
Pandey, P.; Mehta, A.; Hajra, S. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Ruta graveolens stem extracts by disc diffusion method. J. Phytol. 2011, 3, 92–95.
41.
Singh, V.; Kaur, R.; Devashree, Y.; Kaur, D.; Gupta, S. In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Cucumis L. and Momordica L. against Human Pathogens. Dokl. Biol. Sci. 2022, 504, 85–93.
42.
Sulieman, A.M.E.; Abdallah, E.M.; Alanazi, N.A.; Idriss, H.; Adnan, M.; Jamal, A.; Shommo, S.A.; Snoussi, M. Bioactive profiling of Rumex vesicarius L. from the Hail region of Saudi Arabia: A study on its phytochemical and elemental analysis, antibiofilm, antibacterial, antioxidant properties, and molecular docking analysis. Front. Microbiol. 2024, 15, 1421143.
43.
El Baz, A.; Mrabti, H.N.; Ashmawy, N.S.; Khan, S.A.; Abdallah, E.M.; Al-Mijalli, S.H.; Alenazy, R.; Alshabrmi, F.M.; Bouyahya, A.; El Hachlafi, N. Phytochemical characterization, antimicrobial properties and in silico modeling perspectives of Anacyclus pyrethrum essential oil. Heliyon 2024, 10, e35079.
44.
Ferreira Almeida, N.; dos Santos Niculau, E.; Cordeiro Toledo Lima, P.; da Silva, W.F. Determination of the volatile chemical profile of Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) leaf and fruit by GC-MS. Nat. Prod. Res. 2024, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2024.2325595.
45.
Perumal, V.; Khatib, A.; Ahmed, Q.U.; Uzir, B.F.; Abas, F.; Murugesu, S.; Saiman, M.Z.; Primaharinastiti, R.; El-Seedi, H. Correlation of the GC-MS-based metabolite profile of Momordica charantia fruit and its antioxidant activity. Int. Food Res. J. 2022, 29, 58–66.

Scilight Press

Author Information

Abstract

Keywords

References

About Scilight

Journals

Publishing Policies

Contact Us