medicinal plant is evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and iron chelation assays in vitro. The ethanolic extract of Momordica foetida leaves (3.33-330µg/ml) inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by 60µM iron II sulphate (FeSO₄) in rat brain and liver homogenate. The result revealed maximum inhibition (47.6%) in liver at concentration of 6.66µg/ml and maximum inhibitory effect (63.3%) in the brain at concentration of 330µg/ml. Thus, the inhibitory effect of Momordica foetida leaves on lipid peroxidation and iron chelating activity were concentration dependent. Therefore the results suggest that the leaves of Momordica foetida could act as antioxidant agent which is associated with its medicinal use since it prevent Fe²⁺ -induced lipid peroxidation due to its ability to chelate iron.

Keyword: antioxidant activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) assay, Momordica foetida

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