Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF CARICA PAPAYA LEAVES AGAINST ESCHERICHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Mbah-omeje K. N.,* Ugwu C. C., Ezugwu R. I. and Iloputaife E. J.

ABSTRACT

The bioactive compound of Carica papaya leaves were extracted using methanol and hexane. They were investigated for their antibacterial activity against some selected organism, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methanol extracts of Carica papaya showed higher zones of inhibition than hexane extract. Significant (p < 0.05) zones of inhibition were recorded as ranging from 20.0mm-28.00mm for E. coli at concentrations of 20-80mg/ml. They were higher than the zones of inhibition for S. aureus with zones of inhibition of 16.0mm- 22.0mm at concentration of 20-80mg/ml. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that methanol extracts contained alkaloids, tannin, flavonoid, glycoside and saponin at a higher amount than hexane extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration varied between 3.125 and 12.5mg/ml for methanol and hexane extracts respectively. From the study it was observed that antibacterial properties of Carica papaya could support its use as microbial agent.

Keywords: Carica papaya, methanol, extract, hexane, phytochemicals, microorganisms.