Content uploaded by Deepak K Birla
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Deepak K Birla on Dec 18, 2023
Content may be subject to copyright.
Vol. 4, Issue 11 | magazine.pharmatutor.org
PharmaTutor
PRINT ISSN: 2394-6679 | E-ISSN: 2347-7881
Evaluation of Antibacterial activity of Momordica Charantia
Deepak Ku. Birla*
Shri Bherulal Pharmacy Institute,
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
deepakbirla7@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Momordica Charantia is the widely consumed fruit in India. The seeds, fruit, leaves, and root of the plant have
been used in traditional medicine for microbial infections, sluggish digestion and intestinal gas, menstrual
stimulation, wound healing, inflammation, fever reduction, hypertension and have many significant other
medicinal effects. Various phytochemicals present in leaves are extracted using soxhelt apparatus with different
solvents. The aim of the study is to assess the antibacterial activity and to determine the zone of inhibition of
extracts on some bacterial strains. The antibacterial activity was checked against different human pathogens.
The antibacterial activity was determined in the extracts using Disc diffusion method. The present study
discusses antibacterial activity of Momordica Charantia extracts. Antibacterial activity was tested against
(Pseudomonas aureogenosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Shigella flexineri, Bacillus
substilis & E.Coli.). The results showed that the remarkable inhibition of the bacterial growth was shown against
the tested organisms.
Keywords: Momordica Charantia, Antibacterial activity
INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants are the nature’s gift to human being
to make disease free healthy life. Herbal medicine is
still the mainstay of about 75-80 % of the whole
population, mainly in developing countries, for
primary health care because, better compatibility
with the human body and fewer side effects.
Antibiotics are one of the most important
weapons in fighting bacterial infections and have
greatly benefited the health-related quality of
human life since their introduction. In India,
thousands of species are known to have medicinal
values and the use of different parts of several
medicinal plants to cure specific ailments has been
in vogue since ancient times. Momordica charantia
a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is known as
bitter melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, karela, and
pare. Momordica charantia has a non-nitrogenous
neutral principle charantin, and on hydrolysis gives
glucose and a sterol. The fruit pulp of M. charantia
has soluble pectin but no free pectic acid.
Galactouronic acid is also obtained from the pulp.
M.charantia fruits glycosides, saponins, alkaloids,
reducing sugars, resins, phenolic constituents, fixed
oil and free acids1,2.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Plant collection and preparation:
Fresh leaves of M. Charantia were collected from
local area of khargone district. The collected, cleaned
and powdered leaves of Momordica charantia were
used for the extraction purpose. 500g of powder of
leaves of Momordica charantia was evenly packed in
a soxhlet apparatus. It was extracted with 50%
methanol. The solvent used were purified before
use. The extracts were concentrated by vacuum
distillation to reduce the volume 1/ 10.The
concentrated extract was transferred to 100 ml
beaker and the remaining solvent was evaporated on
the water bath, then collected and placed in a
desiccator to remove excessive moisture.
ANTIBACTERIAL SCREENING
Microorganisms used
The test organisms (Pseudomonas aureogenosa,
Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis,
Shigella flexineri, Bacillus substilis & E.Coli.) were
obtained from the Department of Research, JN
Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Bhopal (M.P.).
Procedure:
All of the required apparatus and materials
were sterilized in autoclave and placed in a
How to cite this article: Birla DK; Evaluation of Antibacterial activity of Momordica Charantia; PharmaTutor; 2016; 4(11); 37-40
37
Vol. 4, Issue 11 | magazine.pharmatutor.org
PharmaTutor
PRINT ISSN: 2394-6679 | E-ISSN: 2347-7881
laminar airflow cabinet under pathogen free
conditions.
Test organisms were collected from
department’s microbial standard stock.
By streaking with loop, microorganisms were
inoculated in nutrient broth and incubated at
35 ºC for 12 hr.
Nutrient agar media was prepared and
poured in Petri plates and kept for drying.
Swab (cotton) was dipped in broth having
microbial growth and gently squeezed
against the inside of the tube to remove
excess fluid.
Inoculated the dried surface of agar plate by
streaking the swab over the entire sterile
agar surface. Repeated this procedure two
more times, and rotated the plate 60° each
time to ensure an even distribution of
inoculums.
Replaced the plate top and allow 3 to 5
minutes, but no longer than 15 minutes, for
any excess surface moisture to be absorbed
before applying the test and antibiotics
disks.
Disks were dipped in drug (Momordica
charantia) of different concentration
(5%,10%,15%,20%, 25%, 50%, 75% & 100%)
and air dried in laminar air flow before this
step.
Placed the appropriate disks (Drugs and
antibiotics) evenly (no closer than 24 mm
from center to center) on the surface of the
agar plate by using a sterile force.
Inverted the plate and placed them in an
incubator at 35°C within 15 minutes after
disks were applied.
After 6-8 hrs. Of incubation, examined each
plate at an interval of 2 hours and measured
the diameters of the zones of
complete inhibition, including the
diameter of the disk.3,4,5
RESULT
The observations (Table 1) suggest that different
concentration (25%, 50 %, 75 % & 100 %) were
having good antibacterial activity against
Streptococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermis,
Psudomonas aeriginosa, Shigella flexineri,
Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Thus the extract
is showing varying activity against all
microorganisms.
TABLE 1 : Effect of M.chrantia extract on inhibition of different bacteria.
S.No
Micro organism
Concentration (Zone of inhibition in mm)
25% conc.
50%conc.
75%conc.
100% conc.
1.
Bacillus subtilis
14
16
18
20
2
Shigella flexineri
13
15
18
19
3.
S.epidermis
11
14
15
15
4.
S. aureus
16
17
18
19
5.
E. coli
14
16
19
21
6.
P. aureogenosa
10
12
14
15
The observations (Table 2) suggest that different concentration (5%, 10 %, 15 % & 20 %) were having
antibacterial activity against Streptococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermis, Psudomonas aeriginosa, Shigella
flexineri, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Thus the extract is showing varying activity against all the
microorganism.
TABLE 2: Effect of M.chrantia extract on inhibition of different bacteria.
S.No
Micro organism
Concentration (Zone of inhibition in mm)
5%conc.
10%conc.
15%conc.
20%conc.
1.
Bacillus subtilis
06
07
08
10
2
Shigella flexineri
07
08
09
10
3.
S.epidermis
06
07
08
09
38
Vol. 4, Issue 11 | magazine.pharmatutor.org
PharmaTutor
PRINT ISSN: 2394-6679 | E-ISSN: 2347-7881
4.
S. aureus
05
07
09
12
5.
E. coli
09
10
11
13
6.
P. aureogenosa
07
08
09
10
Table 3: Antibacterial activity of standard antibiotic (gram positive) against different bacteria.
Name of microorganisms
Name Standard antibiotics [zone of inhibition(mm)]
TE
OF
AZ
PC
S.aureus
15
16
16
14
B.subtilis
14
16
18
14
S.epidermidis
14
18
17
17
TE- Tetracycline, OF- Ofloxacin, AZ- Azithromycin & PC- Piperacillin
Table 4: Antibacterial activity of standard antibiotic (gram negative) against different bacteria.
Name of microorganisms
Name Standard antibiotics [zone of inhibition(mm)]
FU
GM
CX
NF
E.coli
12
16
8
16
S.flexineri
18
18
12
21
Ps. auriginosa
14
13
18
20
FU- Nitrofurantoin, GM- Gentamicin, CX- Cefotaxime & NF- Norfloxacin
Fig.1: Effect of M.chrantia extract on inhibition of different bacteria
1.Bacillus Subtilis. 2.Shigella flexinie. 3. Staphylococcus epidermis
4. Staphyloccus arusse 5.E.coli. 6. Pseudomonas Aroginoso.
Fig. 2: Effect of M.chrantia extract on inhibition of different bacteria
Fig.1 & 2 showed Zone of inhibition of m.charantia extract in different strains of bacteria.
Fig.3: standard antibiotic against bacteria S.aureus(A), B. subtilis(B) & P. aeriginosa(C)
39
Vol. 4, Issue 11 | magazine.pharmatutor.org
PharmaTutor
PRINT ISSN: 2394-6679 | E-ISSN: 2347-7881
A (B) (C)
Fig.4: standard antibiotic against bacteria S. epidermidis(D) , E.COLI.(E) & S.flaxineri(F)
(D) (E) (F)
DISCUSSION
The initiation of microbial growth was considered as
zero hour and further accordingly reading was taken.
Our present study showed that antibacterial activity
of 50 % methanolic extract of Momordica extract
against E.coli is best in 100 % concentration after 12
hrs. The 21 mm zone of inhibition. Although 75 %
concentration is having mild effect as 19 mm zone of
inhibition. In Shigella floxineri 100 % concentration
of extract is having good antibacterial activity at
maximum zone of inhibition 19 mm. On the other
hand 75 % is showing static activity from, with zone
of inhibition of 18 mm. For Ps.aurigenosa 100%
concentration of extract show maximum zone of
inhibition 15 mm. Although the effect of 75%
concentration of extract is also revealing as showing
zone of inhibition 10 mm. In the case of Bacillus
subtilis 75 % and 100 % concentration of extract
show good activity with zone of inhibition of 18 mm
and 20 mm respectively. and Streptococcus
epidermis shows the inhibition 15 mm and 15 mm
for 75% and 100 % concentration respectively.
CONCLUSION
The above observations suggest that different
concentration (25%, 50 %, 75 % & 100 %) were
having good antibacterial activity against
Streptococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermis,
Psudomonas aeriginosa, Shigella flexineri,
Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Thus the extract
is showing varying activity against all the
microorganism.
On comparing the zone of inhibition of extract to
that of standard antibiotics (tobramycin, cephalexin,
erythromycin & amoxicillin) extract showed better
activity than tobramycin and cephalexin. But extract
is not potent than erythromycin and amoxicillin in
these conditions. The Momordica extract at different
concentration such as 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20%, 25 %,
50 %, 75 % and 100 % have inhibited the bacterial
zone formations in all the six strains of bacteria such
as Ps.areiginosa, Sh.floxineri E.Coli, B.subtilis,
S.aureus, S.epidermidis. The inhibition of bacterial
zone was also observed with standard antibiotics
used however it is comparatively more than
Momordica extract.
↓ REFERENCES
1. Nadkarni AK. Nadkarni’s Indian Materia Medica, (vol. I and II), popular prakashan, Bombay,India, 1997.
2. Kirtkar KR, Basu BD, Lalit Mohan Basu. Indian medicinal plants (vols.1 and ll). 1968.
3. Cavaleiri S, Manual of antibacterial susceptibility testing, ISBN 1-55581-349-6 .
4. Reddy PS, Jamil K, Madhusudhan P. Antibacterial activity of isolates from Piper longum and Taxus baccata.
Pharmaceutical Biol. 2013; 39:236–8.
5. Ahameethunisa AR and Hopper W, In vitro antibacterial activity on clinical microbial strains and antioxidant
properties of Artemisia parviflora. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antibacterials 2012; 11:30
40