Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Analysis of triterpenoids, carotenoids, and phenylpropanoids in the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems of white bitter melon (Cucurbitaceae, Momordica charantia)

Do Manh Cuong¹, Ramaraj Sathasivam¹, Chang Ha Park¹, Hyeon JI Yeo¹, Ye Eun Park¹, Jae Kwang Kim², Sang Un Park^1,3

¹Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134; ²Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012; ³Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.

For correspondence:- Sang Un Park Email:

Accepted: 13 December 2020 Published: 31 January 2021

Citation: Cuong DM, Sathasivam R, Park CH, Yeo HJ, Park YE, Kim JK, et al. Analysis of triterpenoids, carotenoids, and phenylpropanoids in the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems of white bitter melon (Cucurbitaceae, Momordica charantia). Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(1):155-160 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i1.22

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the contents of carotenoids, triterpenoids, and phenylpropanoids in different parts of white bitter melon.

Methods: We evaluated the accumulation of 2 triterpenoids, 10 carotenoids, and 11 phenylpropanoids in different parts of white bitter melon, including fruits at four different developmental stages using HPLC.

Results: Charantin, lutein, and rutin were the main triterpenoids, carotenoids, and phenylpropanoids, respectively. The accumulation of triterpenoids (momordicine and charantin), carotenoids (antheraxanthin, lutein, violaxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene), and phenylpropanoids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, and trans-cinnamic acid) was high in the leaves and/or flowers, which are exposed to direct sunlight, but low in the roots.

Conclusion: Most of the analyzed components were accumulated at high levels in the leaves and/or flowers. These results will help exploit the compounds in various parts of white bitter melon that are beneficial for human health.

Keywords: Momordica charantia, Bitter melon, Triterpenoid, Carotenoid, Phenylpropanoid