Introduction:

Momordica charantia is a perennial climbing vine of the Cucurbitaceae family. The fruits, seeds and leaves are known in tropical regions for their antidiabetic potential. It is traditionally used as both food and medicine in various diseases including menstrual problems, constipation, malarial fever, HIV AIDS, sores and wound infections. The objective of the present study was to evaluate preliminary pharmacognostic, phytochemical and nutritional parameters of the leaves and stems of the plant.

Methods:

The collection of the plant was carries out from a local garden and authentication was performed by the botanist. Morphological and microscopical studies of the leaf and stem of the plant were conducted. The plant parts were dried in shade and powdered for further study. The physicochemical evaluation of the powdered plant material was performed by determining moisture content, ash value and extractive value. The successive solvent extraction was carried out in solvent with increasing polarity. The qualitative phytochemical study was conducted with the successive solvent extracts. Total tannins and steroids were determined in the extracts of leaves and stems.

Results:

The morphological evaluation was performed by accessing organoleptic parameters. The microscopical evaluation of the leaves and stems was carried out by taking transverse sections and conducting a powder microscopical study and a quantitative determination of leaf constants. The LOD of leaves was 10.45% and that of stems was 15.27%. The total ash value was 9.6% for leaves and 8.8% for stems. The water soluble and alcohol soluble extractive values for leaves were 23.11% and 17.56%, whereas for stems they were 23.76% and 18.56%, respectively. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, proteins, glycosides, saponins and carbohydrates in the leaves while flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, and tannins were found in stems. The total tannins in the leaf extracts were 793.6 μg/ml and the total steroids in the stem extracts were 32 μg/ml.

Conclusion:

The pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation can be used for the preliminary standardization of the plant.