Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Evidences for New Chemical Insights of Momordica charantia

Momordica charantia is known to contain high diversity of biomolecules with antibacterial, antiviral, antihelmintic, abortifacient, antidiabetic and antitumoral properties. Chemical characterization of these molecules and identification of new compounds in M. Charantia sprouts in both aqueous and ethanolic extract was performed in the present study by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analyses of the alcoholic extract revealed that the main components are phytosterols, methyl esters of saturated straight-chain, branched-chain fatty acids, monoterpenes and chemopreventive agents. Major components such as aliphatic alcohols, 17-pentatriacontene, estranal, diterpene, anticopalic acid, hexanedioic acid, mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester, limonen, lupenone and palmitic acid esters were identified in aqueous extract. Fatty acids and vitamin E were detected only in hydrolized samples. In the case of hydrolized aqueous extract, sugar alcohols and esters of hydroxy carboxylic acids were detected. Two disaccharidic compounds, melibiose and turanose, were identified as trimethylsylil derivatives. The extended characterization of M. Charantia chemical components as well as their comparative analysis gives new information about the aspect of sample treatment in plants. The study shows that sprouts of M. charantia are an excelent source of phytosterols, essential fatty acids, and posses important compounds with antioxidant activity.