CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) is an annual, herbaceous creeperof solitary flowers, unisexed and yellow, oblong, tuberculate, orange-yellowfruit, and intense red seeds. The main empirical uses reported areanticholesterolemic, hypoglycaemic and antianemic, as well as nutritionaluses. Its leaves and fruits were evaluated in other regions of the world intheir nutritional contribution and several biological activities.The aims of this work was to determine the nutritional and phytochemicalcomposition of the species and to evaluate its antioxidant activity. The plantwas collected in periurban areas of the city of Sáenz Peña (Chaco). Theparts used were seeds, fruits and leaves of the plant; which were washed anddried at room temperature and pulverized to thick powder.Phytochemical screening was carried out by means of colorful andprecipitation reactions. The determination of humidity, proteins, fats andashes was performed according to the AOAC techniques. The content ofcarbohydrates was determined by the anthrone method and the energyvalues were calculated according to the Mercosur Technical Regulations.The content of total phenols was made with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, theflavonoid content by the reaction with aluminum chloride and theantioxidant activity with the DPPH reagent. In the preliminary evaluation, the metabolites tannins, phenols, flavonoids,lipids, carbohydrates, anthraquinones, saponins and proteins were found.The seeds presented the highest content of fats and proteins, providing thehighest energy value. The leaves presented the highest content of total ashand the highest content of total phenols. The fruits showed the highestvalues of moisture and carbohydrate content and higher free radicalscavenging capacity. The species M. charantia can be considered a resource of interest for its nutritional contribution and with potential antioxidant activity for pharmaceutical formulations

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