Abstract
Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter gourd, is a therapeutic plant popularly known for its antidiabetic potential in folklore medicine. This study investigated the effect of aqueous leaf extract of M. charantia (AMC) on survival rate, locomotive behaviour and antioxidant response in Drosophila melanogaster. Adult flies were fed with different concentrations of AMC (0-100 mg/mL) for 12 days, and their locomotive behaviour and whole-body antioxidant status were assessed at 0, 2, 4 and 8 mg/mL of AMC. Results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the survival rate and locomotive behaviour of flies at 8, 16 and 50 mg/mL of AMC compared to the control. There was no significant difference in malondialdehyde content, GSH level and SOD activity of flies exposed to 2, 4, and 8 mg/mL of AMC compared to the control group. Glutathione-s-transferase activity at 8 mg/mL of AMC increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Acetylcholinesterase activity also increased in a dose-dependent manner with a significant increase at 4 and 8 mg/mL of AMC. The evidence from this study suggests that low to moderate doses of aqueous extract of Momordica charantia slightly improved survival rate of flies. It also increased the activities of acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzymes. © 2021 the authors and De-Campos et al.
Highlights
Plants rich in phytochemicals and phytonutrients have played an essential role in the overall health and wellness of several individuals in the world for ages.[1,2] In developing countries, they still serve as the primary source of health care among some communities while in some developed countries, they serve as alternative and complementary medicines.[3,4] Momordica charantia L. is one of the numerous therapeutic plants known today
This study examined the effect of aqueous extract of M. charantia (AMC) on survival, locomotive behaviour and antioxidant status in D. melanogaster
Little is known on how the plant extract affects the survival rate, locomotive behaviour and antioxidant response in D. melanogaster
Summary
Plants rich in phytochemicals and phytonutrients have played an essential role in the overall health and wellness of several individuals in the world for ages.[1,2] In developing countries, they still serve as the primary source of health care among some communities while in some developed countries, they serve as alternative and complementary medicines.[3,4] Momordica charantia L. is one of the numerous therapeutic plants known today. It is used in ethnomedicine to manage and treat ulcers, jaundice, type 2 diabetes, viral and bacterial diseases.[5] It is commonly called bitter gourd or bitter lemon because of its different parts' bitter taste.[5] Locally, it is known as "Ejirin" among the Yorubas, Alo-ose among the Igbos and Kakayi among the Hausas in Nigeria 6. The bitter taste of the fruit of M. charantia is considered suitable for consumption. The leaves, fruits, stems, and seeds contain proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals and vitamins.[5,8] Drosophila melanogaster, commonly called fruit fly, is used as a model organism for studying different human diseases.[9] About 75% of the genome of D. melanogaster are functionally related to that of humans. The fruit fly produces a large number of offspring within
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