Determination of phenolic compound contents in fruits of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) from Chad

Abstract

Momordica charantia L. (cucurbitaceae), is a plant whose fruits are widely consumed in Chad. Seeds, green and ripe pulps of the fruits of this plant were subject of this study. The total polyphenols, antioxidants, flavonoids and anthocyanins were evaluated by the Folin - Ciocalteu, DPPH, iron trichloride and pH-differential methods respectively. The total polyphenol obtained were 9.368 mg GAE/g for the seeds extract, 9.068 mg GAE/g for the green pulp extract and 8.505 mg GAE/g for the mature pulp extract. The total antioxidant were 2.351, 2.074 and 1.365 mg QE/g for seeds, green pulp and ripe pulp respectively. The total flavonoid was 0.818 mg QE/g for seeds, 0.812 mg QE/g for green pulp and 0.808 mg EQ/g for ripe pulp. The total anthocyanin for seed, green and ripe pulp extracts were 0.360, 0.318 and 0.238 mg/g, respectively. The results of the polyphenol assays of the samples after traditional culinary transformed, show that the thermal transformation has a negative impact which is characterized by a decrease in the polyphenol contents. Percentages of total polyphenols after culinary transformation were 11.28; 8.84 and 8.26% respectively for the extracts of green pulp, seeds and ripe pulp.