Morphological characterization and determination of the total alkaloid and saponin content of 15 accessions of bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.)
2009
Macusi, E.S., Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research. Dept. of Ecology and Natural Resources Management | Rosario, T.L., Philippines Univ. Los Baños, College, Laguna (Philippines). Crop Science Cluster
A total of 53 morpho-horticultural characters of bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.), 36 of which were qualitative and 17 quantitative, were evaluated. The parameters were categorized into seedling, vegetative, inflorescence, fruit and seed characters for the identification of the distinct traits of each accession and to determine the presence and absence of variants for a range of characters. The alkaloid content of the 15 accessions ranged 73.74-111.76 mg/g for Bonito and Mayon varieties, respectively. There were no significant difference among the computed alkaloid values. Significant differences were found in the saponin content which ranged 4.33 - 10.29 mg/g. Native accessions had higher saponin content than the commercial hybrids and improved open-pollinated varieties. Makiling, the most studied and commonly used variety for pharmaceutical extraction purposes, had relatively low values for both alkaloid and saponin contents. Leaf size was negatively correlated with alkaloid content. Significant negative correlations were obtained between saponin content and fruit shape, fruit luster, and fruit weight. Flesh color and intensity however, were positively correlated with saponin content. All other characters showed no significant correlations with saponin and alkaloid content.
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