**8. Anti-parasitic (anti-anthelmintic) activity**

Helminthic infection is a problem, which is caused by nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes. The main target of helminthic infection is gastrointestinal system that affects human and livestock's in the world. Nowadays, in spite of using medicines, functional foods such as bitter melon is considered as an important therapeutic medicinal food with anthelmintic action. The presence of functional ingredients including saponins, momordin, momordicoside, momordicin, the worms are paralyzed by inhibiting the acetyl cholinesterase [30]. Anthelmintic effect of *M. charantia* also include the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism, mico nicotinic agonists, oxidative phosphorylation inhibition, increased calcium permeability, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors, and β-tubulin binding [24, 30]. Saponins are observed to affect the permeability of the cell membrane of worms and lead disintegration and vacuolization of tegument; irritating the mucous membrane channel gastrointestinal of worms that interfere with the absorption of food [30]. Flavonoid compounds especially apigenin is shown to inhibit larval growth and inhibit the arachidonic acid metabolism which may lead to the degeneration of neurons in the worm's body and lead to death [24, 30].

#### **9. Anti-HIV activity**

Bioactive components which are present in *M. charantia* are analyzed to be useful in the management of HIV infection [31]. Ethanolic extracts from leaves and stems of *M. charantia* have shown highly antiviral activity [31]. The root of *M. charantia* is suggested to have moderate anti-HIV-1 activity [31]. Bitter melon proteins is examined to inhibit HIV activity, depress the expression of the virus core protein [27]. Compounds such as momorcharin, and lectin are isolated from *M. charantia*, these compounds have a protective effect against viral infections. That are shown to have a strong influence on HIV, but these compounds are not well absorbed in patients. In infected people, oral intake of *M. charantia* is demonstrated to slow the progression of HIV [27, 31]. Leaf extracts are provided immunostimulant effects against viral infections particularly HIV and has an ability to treat various viral diseases [27, 31].
