The enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative capacities of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and zucchini
(Cucurbita pepo) were investigated in water extracts and chemical buffer extracts. Bitter gourd and zucchini
fruits were purchased from a farmer’s market and homogenized separately in water and in a native enzyme
extraction buffer. Total phenolic compounds, free radical DPPH scavenging activity, SOD activity and β-
glucosidase activity were assayed in the extracts. The average total phenolic compounds recorded in bitter
gourd were 13.28 GAE/g fresh weights while in zucchini, the average was 8.67GAE/g fresh weight. This study
also found that bitter gourd was 82.05% as effective as ascorbic acid in inhibiting the free radical DPPH while
zucchini was 12.19% as effective. The results indicated that bitter gourd was significantly higher in antioxidant
content and in β-glucosidase activities than zucchini (P