In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidants of Fruit Extract of Momordica charantia L. on Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes

The antioxidant activity of the total aqueous extract (TAE) and total phenolic extract (TPE) of Momordica charantia fruits was assayed by radical-scavenging methods and cytoprotective effects on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- and hypoxanthin-xanthin oxidase (HX-XO)-induced damage to rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs), NIH 3T3, and keratinocyte (A431). Cell viability was monitored by a 3-[4,5-dimethyltriazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltretrazolium (MTT) assay, For fibroblasts, TPE at 200 and 300 mu g/mL showed maximum and consistent cytoprotection against oxidants. The extract at 50 mu g/mL also had significant and slightly protective effects on fibroblasts against H2O2- and HX-XO-induced damage, respectively. RCF was more tolerant toward the damage. For keratinocytes, a Close-dependent relationship of oxidant toxicity was only seen with H2O2 but the protective action of the extract correlated with oxidant dosage. At 200 and 300 mu g/mL TPE, cytoprotection was dose-dependent against oxidants. Extracts had no effect on HX-XO toxicity at 50 mu g/mL. Pretreatment with both the extracts did not show any cytoprotection.