ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS ORGANS BITTER GOURD (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L.)

Bitter gourd (Brâncuși cultivar) stems, tendrils and leaves from plants locally grown at the „Ovidius” University, Constanța, were extracted in 70% ethanol solution and analyzed for antioxidant activity.The highest antioxidant activity was found in tendrils (53.08%), flowers (51.53%) and fruit pulp (49.64%). Lowest values of IC50 were found in flower (34.46 mg/L) and fruit pulp (39.47 mg/L) extracts. These values are high when compared to other known Cucurbitaceae, especially in regard to vegetative organs. Considering the known contents of bioactive compounds in M. Charantia organs, the antioxidant activity cannot be directly correlated to total phenolic concentrations, those of flavonoids or ascorbic acid.