Assessment of the ethanolic extract of Coccinia grandis on in vitro antityrosinase and anti-inflammatory activities and its active chemical determination

Cucurbitaceae plants have figured prominently in the world as edible medicinal plants, supplying essential elements and minerals to support human health and prevent some diseases caused by malnutrition. Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, also known as the ivy gourd, is one of the most popular cucurbitaceous plants that has spread throughout the tropics. For a long time, the plant has been cultivated as a food crop, and its aerial parts have been used as nutritious vegetables. Coccinia grandis extract has been scientifically reported to be efficient in various pharmacological investigations such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cell proliferative properties, and it was recently affirmed as a potential medicinal herb with antidiabetic properties. This suggests that developing plant extracts as functional ingredients in food and medicine is more advantageous. Thus, the goal of this study was to elaborate on previously unreported pharmacological activities as well as to identify the active phytochemical compound responsible for their action. In this study, C. grandis ethanolic extract was confronted with a variety of in vitro biological assays, including tyrosinase inhibition activity and anti-inflammatory activity. When compared to the positive controls, the plant extract displayed remarkable anti-tyrosinase activity with an IC50 value of 0.29±0.06 mg/mL and anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 9.63±1.10 mg/mL. The active triterpenoid compound lupeol was found in the sample at a level of 18.87±0.79 mg per 100 g of dry extract, as shown by the HPLC profile of the extract. The current study demonstrated the presence of an active chemical in C. grandis extract, which could support the prospect of integrating this extract into herbal food products that become beneficial to health.