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Chinese Traditional Medical Journal 
 

 

Phytochemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activities of Memordica 

cymbalaria Hook.f. Fruit Skin Extracts 

 

R. Lakshmanan1, M. Deepa2, C. Mahesh3 and R. Solaiammal4 

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, G.Venkataswamy Naidu College 

(Autonomous), Kovilpatti – 628502. (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, 

Tirunelveli) Tamil Nadu, India 

2,3,4, Department of Botany, G.Venkataswamy Naidu College (Autonomous), Kovilpatti – 

628502. (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli) Tamil Nadu, 

India 

 

Introduction 

Memordica cymbalaria Hook.f., a member of the 

Cucurbitaceae family, is widely known for its 

therapeutic potential, especially in traditional 

medicine. It has been utilized for various 

ailments, including infections and inflammatory 

conditions. Despite the increasing use of 

synthetic drugs, medicinal plants continue to play 

a significant role in combating infectious diseases 

due to their lower side-effect profiles and 

antimicrobial properties. The standardization of 

medicinal plant products is crucial for ensuring 

their reproducibility and therapeutic efficacy. In 

this context, the present study investigates the 

Abstract— The current study investigates the phytochemical composition, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of various solvent extracts 

of Memordica cymbalaria Hook.f., commonly known as bitter melon. The fruit skin extracts were evaluated for the presence of bioactive 

compounds, as well as their efficacy against common human pathogens. The findings suggest that the plant’s extracts, especially the petroleum 

ether extract, possess significant antibacterial and antifungal properties, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent. The study 

emphasizes the importance of solvent choice in optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds. 

 

Keywords: Memordica cymbalaria, phytochemicals, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, petroleum ether extract, medicinal plants. 

 



Chinese Traditional Medicine Journal | 2024 | Vol7 |Issue6 CTMJ | traditionalmedicinejournals.com 

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phytochemical composition and the antimicrobial 

potential of Memordica cymbalaria fruit skin. 

Materials and Methods 

Collection of Plant Material 

The fruit skin of Memordica cymbalaria was 

collected from mature fruits and authenticated by 

a botanist. The plant material was washed, dried, 

and powdered for further analysis. 

 

Natural Habit of Memordica cymbalaria Hook. f. 

 

                
 

Extraction Process 

The fruit skin was subjected to extraction using 

different solvents: Petroleum Ether, Toluene, 

Acetone, and Aqueous. The extracts were 

prepared using standard protocols, and the extract 

concentrations were standardized for 

antimicrobial testing. 

Phytochemical Screening 

The presence of 15 bioactive phytochemicals was 

screened using standardized methods. The 

phytochemicals tested included alkaloids, 

flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, sterols, 

and more. 

Table No. 1: The details of selected solvents and Soxhlet unit running parameters of 

Fruit skin of Memordica cymbalaria Hook.f. 

S.No. Solvent Name 
Boiling 

Point 
Polarity 

Total No. of  

Cycles 

Soxhlet  

Total Running  

Hours 

1. Petroleum Ether 600 C 0.1 18 3 

2. Toluene 1110 C 2.4 14 3 

3. Acetone 560 C 5.1 09 3 

4. Aqueous 1000 C 10.2 03 3 

 

Table No. 2: Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals constituents of Fruit skin of              

Memordica cymbalaria Hook.f. 



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S.NO TEST NAME 
PETROLEUM 

ETHER 

TOLUENE 
ACETONE AQUEOUS 

1. Alkaloids + + - - 

2. Steroids + + - + 

3. Reducing sugars + - - - 

4. Tannins - + + + 

5. Saponins - - + + 

6. Coumarins - - - + 

7. Flavonoids + - + - 

8. Terpenoids + - + + 

9. 
Glycosides 

- 
+ 

- - 

10. Quinones - - - - 

11. Amino acids + - - - 

12. Essential oils - + - - 

13. Aromatic acids + - - - 

14. Carbohydrates + - - - 

15. Anthocyanins - + - + 

Total No. of 

Phytochemicals 
8 

6 
4 6 

Note:  (+) Present; (-)Absent 

Antibacterial Activity 

Antibacterial screening was performed using the 

disc diffusion method. The following bacterial 

strains were tested: Staphylococcus aureus, 

Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 

and Bacillus subtilis. 

Antifungal Activity 

The antifungal activity of the extracts was 

evaluated against Aspergillus niger and 

Penicillium notatum using similar methods to 

those used for antibacterial screening. 

Results 

Phytochemical Composition 

The phytochemical composition varied 

depending on the solvent used for extraction. The 

following compounds were identified: 

Petroleum Ether Extract: Amino acids, 

Carbohydrates, Terpenoids, Steroids, Reducing 

sugars, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Aromatic acids. 

Toluene Extract: Alkaloids, Steroids, Tannins, 

Glycosides, Essential oils, Anthocyanins. 



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Acetone Extract: Tannins, Terpenoids, 

Flavonoids, Saponins. 

Aqueous Extract: Tannins, Terpenoids, 

Steroids, Saponins, Coumarins, Anthocyanins. 

These findings indicate that different solvents 

extract distinct phytochemicals, emphasizing the 

importance of solvent selection for maximizing 

the extraction of bioactive compounds. 

Antibacterial Activity 

The antimicrobial properties of the fruit skin 

extracts were evaluated against four bacterial 

pathogens. The results indicated that the 

petroleum ether extract exhibited the highest 

antibacterial activity: 

• Staphylococcus aureus: 16.4 mm zone of 

inhibition. 

• Escherichia coli: 16 mm zone of inhibition. 

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa: 15.2 mm zone of 

inhibition. 

• Bacillus subtilis: 15 mm zone of inhibition. 

These results suggest that Memordica cymbalaria 

fruit skin, particularly the petroleum ether extract, 

holds promise as an effective antibacterial agent. 

Table No. 3. Antimicrobial activity of leaves extracts of Fruit skin of  

Memordica cymbalaria Hook.f. using disc diffusion assay 

S. No Pathogens 

Antibacterial activity - Zone of Inhibition (mm) 

Petroleum 

Ether 

Toluene 
Acetone  Aqueous Control 

(Amikacin) 

1. Escherichia coli 16 ± 0.5 15± 0.5 16.2 ± 0.3 12 ± 0.6 17 ± 0.4 

2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15.2 ± 0.2 13.6 ± 0.2 14.6 ± 0.4 13 ± 0.3 17 ± 0.5 

3. Staphylococcus aureus 15 ± 0.3 13 ± 0.3 16 ± 0.2 12 ± 0.2 18 ± 0.4 

4. Bacillus subtilis 16.4 ± 0.4 14 ± 0.4 15 ± 0.5 12.3 ± 0.5 18 ± 0.3 

S. No Pathogens 

Antifungal activity - Zone of Inhibition (mm) 

Petroleum 

Ether 

Toluene 
Acetone  Aqueous Control 

(Nystatin) 

1. Aspergillus niger 17 ± 0.5 13.6± 0.5 13 ± 0.3 11 ± 0.6 16 ± 0.4 

2. Pencillium notatum 15 ± 0.2 14 ± 0.2 13 ± 0.4 11.5 ± 0.3 15 ± 0.5 

 ± Standard Error, + Present, – Absent 

 

 

Figure No. 3. Antimicrobial activity of leaves extracts of Fruit skin of  

Memordica cymbalaria Hook.f. using disc diffusion assay 



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Antifungal Activity 

The antifungal activity of the fruit skin extracts 

was also significant: 

• Aspergillus niger: Maximum zone of inhibition 

(17 mm) in the petroleum ether extract and 

minimum (11 mm) in the aqueous extract. 

• Penicillium notatum: Maximum zone of 

inhibition (15 mm) in the petroleum ether extract 

and minimum (11.5 mm) in the aqueous extract. 

These results demonstrate that Memordica 

cymbalaria is also effective against fungal 

pathogens, further supporting its therapeutic 

potential. 

Discussion 

The phytochemical screening revealed that 

Memordica cymbalaria contains a wide range of 

bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, 

flavonoids, terpenoids, and saponins. The 

composition of these compounds varied with the 

solvent used for extraction, which is consistent 

with previous studies on other medicinal plants. 

Petroleum ether and acetone extracts, in 

particular, showed the presence of key bioactive 

compounds like alkaloids and terpenoids, known 

for their antimicrobial properties. 

The antibacterial activity of the fruit skin extracts, 

especially the petroleum ether extract, was 

significant, particularly against Staphylococcus 

aureus and Escherichia coli, which are major 

causes of human infections. The observed 

antimicrobial activity aligns with other studies 

suggesting the potential of Memordica 

cymbalaria as a natural source of antimicrobial 

agents. 

Similarly, the antifungal activity of the petroleum 

ether extract against Aspergillus niger and 

Penicillium notatum highlights the broad-

spectrum potential of this plant in combating both 

bacterial and fungal pathogens. This finding is 

particularly important in the context of rising 



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fungal infections and increasing resistance to 

conventional antifungal agents. 

Conclusion 

The results of this study underscore the 

therapeutic potential of Memordica cymbalaria 

fruit skin, particularly its extracts in petroleum 

ether. The significant antibacterial and antifungal 

activities observed in this study suggest that the 

plant can be developed as a natural antimicrobial 

agent. Further research is needed to isolate and 

characterize the active compounds responsible 

for these activities and to explore their 

mechanism of action in greater detail. 

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