ISSN 2320-5407 International Journal of Advanced Research (2013), Volume 2, Issue 2, 233-238 233 Journal homepage: http://www.journalijar.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH RESEARCH ARTICLE Antioxidant activity and Estimation of Total Phenolic content of Momordica balsamina Samriti Faujdar 1* , Sumitra Nain 1 , A.N.Kalia 2 1. Banasthali university, Banasthali, Tonk(Rajasthan)-304022 2. ISF College of Pharmacy, Ferozepur-Moga GT Rd, Moga (Punjab)-142001 Manuscript Info Abstract Manuscript History: Received: 18 December 2013 Final Accepted: 25 January 2014 Published Online: February 2014 Key words: Total Phenolic , Gallic acid, Momordica balsamina *Corresponding Author Samriti Faujdar In vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of fruit pulp of Momordica balsamina was assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging, FRPA, Lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid assay methods. The methanol and the aqueous extract had shown DPPH scavenging activity (IC 50 =371.29±1.57 μg/ml and IC 50 =384.22±2.46 μg/ml) respectively when compared with the IC 50 values of the standards ascorbic acid and rutin (IC 50 =8.84±0.05 and 3.78±0.153 μg/ml respectively) and IC 50 values of methanolic (311.07±0.009 μg/ml) and aqueous (386.01±0.006 μg/ml) extracts in lipid peroxidation as compared to BHT (48.89±0.01 μg/ml) μg/ml. The reducing power of the extracts were found to be concentration dependent. The total phenolic content was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was found to be 2.34%w/w. Copy Right, IJAR, 2013,. All rights reserved. INTRODUCTION Momordica balsamina also known as junglee karela in Hindi, is belonging to family Cucurbitaceae. This plant is most commonly found in the northern parts of India such as Punjab, Haryana and some parts of Rajasthan. M. balsamina is fairly common and widespread in Namibia, Botswana, Switzerland and all the provinces of South Africa except the Western Cape. It is also indigenous to tropical Africa and Asia, Arabia, India and Australia. It has been cultivated in gardens in Europe since the 1800's (1). Liniment made by infusing the fruit pulp in olive or almond oil is used as an application to chapped hands, burns and haemorrhoids and the mashed fruit is used as a poultice (2). Infusion of this plant is used to cure intestinal and stomach pains. It is believed that this drug is used in the prophylactic relief in diabetes (3). Regular use of Momordica balsamina reduces the risk of osteoporosis.(4). There are not so much scientific details are available on this plant, thereby indicating lack of exploration into its pharmaceutical advantages. The present study was carried out to assess the antioxidant activity of this plant using DPPH free radical scavenging, FRPA, lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Material Dried fruits of M. balsamina were procured from the local market of Moga and were identified by Dr. H.B. Singh, Director, Department of Raw Material Herbarium & Museum, National Institute of Science communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), New Delhi, India (NISCAIR/ RHM 1062/93). The fruits were collected, seeds and fruit pulp of M. balsamina were separately shade dried, coarsely powdered and used for the present study.