Phytochemistry and anticonvulsant activitty of <i>Momordica charantia</i> in mice

Abstract

Momordica charantia (Curcubitaceae) commonly called bitter lemon is an edible slender, tendril and climbing annual vine that is indigenous to the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is used in ethno-medicine to treat febrile convulsion in children. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Momordica charantia were subjected to phytochemical analysis, and evaluated for anticonvulsant activities using the maximal electroshock (MES) and the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice at the graded doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg. The MES active nhexane extract was subjected to solvent/solvent Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) fractionation and fractions obtained were evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. The active VLC fractions were further fractionated using Column Chromatography (CC) to obtain anticonvulsant active fractions which were analyzed with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results of the phytochemical analysis of the four extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, lipids, amino acids and terpenoids. The n-hexane extract was selectively active against the MES-induced seizure, and provided 65, 85 and 90% protection at the doses of 25, 50 and 100mg/kg respectively. The active VLC fractions provided 85 and 100% protection at the doses of 6.25 and 12.5mg/kg, while the CC fractions provided 90 and 100% protection at the doses of 1.5625 and 6.25m/kg respectively. The GC-MS analyses of the CC fractions revealed the presence of linoleic acid (LA), alpha linolenic acid (ALA), C-16 and C-18 medium-chain fatty acids as the major components, which have previously been shown to have antiseizure activity. With the results of the experiments, it is concluded that the n-hexane extract and its VLC and column fractions selectively protected albino mice against the maximal electroshock-induced seizures and had no activity against the pentylenetrazol-induced seizures. The antiseizure activity of the active n-Hexane extract could be due to the presence of linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, the C-16 and C-18 medium-chain fatty acids.