Open AccessAnalgesic and antipyretic activities of Momordica charantia linn. fruits
Author(s) -
Rohit B. Patel,
Naveen K. Mahobia,
Nitin Upwar,
Naheed Waseem,
Harshang Talaviya,
Zalak Patel
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
agricultural policy paper
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.325
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 0110-5558
DOI - 10.4103/0110-5558.76441
Subject(s) - momordica , bitter gourd , antipyretic , traditional medicine , ascorbic acid , analgesic , chemistry , saponin , glycoside , cucurbitaceae , acetic acid , medicine , pharmacology , food science , botany , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
Plant Momordica charantia Linn. belongs to family Cucurbitaceae. It is known as bitter gourd in English and karela in Hindi. Earlier claims show that the plant is used in stomachic ailments as a carminative tonic; as an antipyretic and antidiabetic agent; and in rheumatoid arthritis and gout. The fruit has been claimed to contain charantin, steroidal saponin, momordium, carbohydrates, mineral matters, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, glucosides, etc. The ethanolic extract of the fruit showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The present study was carried out using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail-immersion tests in mice, while yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The ethanolic extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg, po.) showed an analgesic and antipyretic effect, which was significantly higher than that in the control rats. The observed pharmacological activities provide the scientific basis to support traditional claims as well as explore some new and promising leads.