Utilization of over matured fruit waste of Spine gourd (Momordica dioca Roxb.) as a source of anthelmintic bioactive constituents

Abstract

To study the difference in the accumulation of bioactive constituents in Spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.), the changes in its phenolic compounds at mature green (fruit utilized) and ripe red (fruit wasted) stages were analysed, and it was correlated with their antioxidant and anthelmintic potential. The highest total phenolic content was observed in ripe peel ethyl acetate (RPEA), tannins in ripe seed hexane (RSH) and flavonoid in ripe peel ethanol (RPE) extracts. UPLC–MS analysis identified 15 phenolic compounds in the extracts. The highest antioxidant potential was shown by RSH in DPPH (IC50 1.47 mg/ml), RPEA in ABTS (IC50 2.40 mg/ml), and mature peel water (MPeW) extract in FRAP assays (0.58 μg trolox equivalent per g dw). RPE induced the highest anthelmintic activity against Caenorhabditis elegans in egg hatch assay (LC50 - 0.02 mg/ml), and adult worm mortality assay (LC50 -1.44 mg/ml), as well as 100% death of infective juveniles in Heterorhabditis indica (50 mg/ml). Correlation studies and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated the relationship of catechins, quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, and gallic acid to anthelmintic activity. The study showed that the ripe stage of Spine gourd, which gets disposed of as postharvest waste, had better anthelmintic activity, and it can be utilized for the development of food formulations with anthelmintic potential.