Extraction and identification of phenol compounds from Bitter Melon Momordica charantia fruits and their role as antioxidants

The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Bitter Melon Momordica charantia exracts including phenolic compounds, ethanolic and aqueous were studied. Phenolic compounds were extracted, purified and identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The main phenolic constituents, which were present in the fruit extract of bitter melon, were gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gentisic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid and epicatechin. The results clearly indicated that phenolic compounds have an effective antioxidant activity by using Ferric Thiocyanate (FTC) method. Phenolic compounds caused 91.25% lipid peroxidation inhibition of linoleic acid emulsion. This activity was greater than ethanolic extract 82.5%, α- tocopherol 70% and aqueous extract 49.58%. Also the phenolic compounds revealed obvious activity for HR2ROR2 Rscavenging 68.8% in comparison with α- tocopherol 45.3%, ethanolic extract 52.6% and aqueous extract 36.2%. These results confirmed the important role of phenolic compounds as antioxidants and the most antioxidant activity of bitter melon fruits belong to these compounds.