Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Momordica Charantia: A Review

Momordica charantia L. (bitter melon) is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, mainly in Asia, India, China and Brazil, where it is traditionally used as a medicinal plant, and the fruits of some varieties of M. charantia are consumed as food. Studies have determined that this plant contains a great diversity of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential like charantin, α-momorcharin and MAP30, and highlighting its properties as antidiabetic, antiulcer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antihyperglycemic and anticancer. Review shows the complete botanical description of the plant (fruits, leaves, stem, etc.), the bioactive chemical compounds reported in the plant species, the antimicrobial activity of the extracts or fractions of M. charantia, emphasizing the antibacterial and antifungal activities, with respective values of MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) reported according to the methodology used in each study. The review seeks to update the phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge of M. charantia, which would be useful for researchers in their search for new chemical compounds of the plant, studies of its safety and efficacy, as well as the evaluation of its possible synergistic action in combination with other antimicrobials, in order to find new therapeutic alternatives against bacterial resistance.