Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia L.) Extract Cultured in Lampang Thailand.

Abstract

The ethanol extract of bitter melon (Momordica Charantia L.) grown in Lampang province, Thailand was investigated for its total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity, respectively. The bitter melon extract (BME) was prepared from leaves, stems and roots power. The amount of total phenolic content (TPC) was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method. To evaluate antioxidant activity, 1, 1-diphenyl-i-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were performed. The results showed that BME extract has a high phenolic content about 49.42??1.28 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE). In addition, BME possessed similar radical scavenging activity as compared to ascorbic acid by the DPPH method and Fe reducing activity by FRAP assay was 32.23??0.96 mg/g ascorbic acid equivalent. The cytotoxicity shown by LDH assay of the BME on cervical cancer cell line was 0%, 51% and 98% at concentrations of 80, 100 and 120 ??g/ml for Hela cells and 0%, 30% and 70% at concentrations of 140, 160 and 180 ??g/ml for Siha cells. From all of the results, this BME showed strong antioxidant activity and moderate cytotoxicity on cervical cancer cells (Hela and Siha cells). Therefore, the non-toxic con concentrations of BME will be used to test the effect of BME on invasion and progression of cervical cancer cell lines.