Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of Carica papaya and Cucurbita specie Seed Extracts on Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

Objective: In this work, we studied the antifungal and anti-bacterial properties of seeds of Carica papaya and Curcubita specie using selected bacteria and fungi. Methods: Modified cold extraction method with ethanol and n-hexane was conducted. Antimicrobial properties of the extracts were done using agar block dilution for fungi and agar diffusion method for the bacteria. Measurement of the mean growth rate (MGR) for the fungi isolate and the inhibition zone diameter (IZD) for the bacteria were used as parameters. Results: Significant antifungal property was observed in ethanolic extract of Carica papaya at a concentration of 6% at four days of its exposure, while n-hexane extract of Carica papaya and ethanolic extract of Curcubita specie show fungistatic action. Ethanolic extract of Carica papaya at 6% concentration showed more antifungal property than the control drug. Antibacterial action for all the test extracts was poor, with the control drug showing more significant action than the extracts. There was a statistical significance difference between the ethanolic extract of Carica papaya and Curcubita specie (p< 0.05). Conclusion: This is an indication that ethanolic extract of Carica papaya can be used in the treatment of some of the fungal infection caused by Aspergillus flavus likewise n-hexane extracts. Keywords: Antifungal, Anti-bacterial, Carica papaya, Curcubita specie, ethanolic extract, n-hexane extract.