Abstract
Momordica charantia (M. charantia) is a herbaceous climber commonly found in Southeast Asia with therapeutic importance for various illnesses. This study focused on the effect of extraction solvents on saponins-containing compounds from M. charantia and their bioactivities. Different organic solvents including water, ethanol, ethyl acetate, a mixture of methanol-water and methanol-n-butanol were used in the extraction process. The total saponin content, total flavonoid and phenolic content for each extract were examined. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of these extracts were evaluated using both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Free Radical Scavenging Activity and 2,2â-azino-bis-3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. Furthermore, a-amylase and lipase inhibition assay were carried out using an in vitro model. The result showed that methanol-n-butanol extracts exhibited the highest total saponin, flavonoid, phenolic content, and ABTS antioxidant activity compared to the other extracts. The a-amylase inhibition assay revealed that water extract and methanol-n-butanol extract from M. charantia contained potent a-amylase inhibitor. On the other hand, the ethyl acetate extract was found to have the most antioxidant capacities based on DPPH radical scavenging assay. The ethyl acetate extract also exhibited the highest inhibition of lipase activities. In conclusion, the methanol-n-butanol solvent was found to be the most effective in extracting saponin from M. charantia. The M. charantia extracts showed inhibition of a-amylase and lipase activities which may suggest the therapeutic potential of M. charantia for obesity and diabetes.
Highlights
Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease which correlates closely with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
A serial extraction with methanol and n-butanol solvent yielded the maximum saponin content amounted 5414.19 ± 101.62 mg EE/g, highest flavonoid content (1612.55 ± 59.89 mg RE/g) and most phenolic content (31.72 ± 1.05 mg GAE/g) compared to the other four extracts. These screening of phytochemicals were done by using colorimetric method showed the most total Saponin content (TSC) in extract E followed by methanol-n-butanol extract (C), methanol-water extract (D), water extract (A) and ethanol extract (B)
The highest phenolic content was observed in the methanol-n-butanol extract, followed by extracts C, A, D and B. This finding is consistent with reports by Srinivasulu et al, (2017) which 74.65 ± 0.04 GAE mg/g phenolic content were identified from methanol extract followed by ethyl acetate (62.16 ± 0.07 GAE mg/gm)
Summary
Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease which correlates closely with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The incidence of obesity in the world has increased by more than two-fold since 1980 according to World Health Organization. It has reached epidemic proportions and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic diseases and disabilities with incalculable social costs. For the past 30 years, Malaysia has become the âfattestâ country in Asia, with almost half the adult population overweight or obese (https://umsc.my/?umsc_news=malaysia-has-become-fattest-countryin-asia-in-30-years, 15 May 2020). Anti obesity drugs such as orlistat and sibutramine may lead to side effects including hypertension, insomnia, constipation, headache, and dry mouth (Yun, 2010). There are increasing research interest on bioactive ingredient from natural product as an alternative natural anti-obesity agent
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