Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(10): 3653-3665 3653 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.910.423 Assessment of Antioxidant and Quantitative Estimation of Momordica charantia (Leaves and Fruit) Plant of Cucurbitaceae Family Ruchika Sharma*, Namrata Dwivedi and Indra Prasad Tripathi Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishvavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna, (M.P), India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Diabetes mellitus is considered as one of the five leading causes of death in the world. Diabetes mellitus is a major global health concerning with a projected rise in prevalence from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030. It is a syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) 1 . Plant-produced chemical compounds or phytochemicals like alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins, resins have been used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications such as flavors, aromas and fragrances, enzymes, preservatives, cosmetics, bio based fuels and plastics, natural pigments and bioactive compounds 2 . In the field of nutrition, plants and their products have significant importance not only for providing basic nutrients but also for prevention of various maladies. They indeed improve the quality of life throughout the globe. Plant-based traditional medicines are also in use since immemorial times, however, their standardizations is essential in order to assess their potential. Diabetes mellitus is among the most common disorder in developed and developing countries, and the disease is increasing rapidly in most parts of the world. It has been estimated that up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. One plant that has received the most attention for its anti-diabetic properties is bitter melon, Momordica charantia (M. charantia), commonly referred to as bitter gourd, kaela and balsam pear. Its fruit is also used for the treatment of diabetes and related conditions amongst the indigenous populations of Asia, South America, India and East Africa. This paper reveals the free radical scavenging activities of available parts (leaves and fruit) of Kaela plants found in the Chitrakoot region of Madhya Pradesh, India. The free radical scavenging studies were conducted by using DPPH and ABTS methods with ascorbic acid standard. It is important to note that further in vivo studies are required to confirm the obtained results. Present work can only reveal the free radical scavenging properties of selected herbs, but their use as drugs depends on the involvement of pharmaceutical companies. Keywords Momordica charantia, Diabetes, Bitter melon, Medicinal plant, free radicals, antioxidants, DPPH, ABTS Accepted: 26 September 2020 Available Online: 10 October 2020 Article Info International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 10 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com