ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SELECTED SEED SHELLS

Abstract

Objective: The study was undertaken to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of polyherbal seed shells. Methods: The seed of Momordica charantia, Manikara zapota, Emblica officinalis, Syzygium cumini, collected from the local market, Mathikere, Bangalore, India. Ethanolic extract was prepared from the dried seed powders using solvent 80% ethanol. Initially, antimicrobial activity of the extract was performed by agar well diffusion method against two bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) and two fungal pathogens (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). Results: The antimicrobial study results revealed that the test extract was strongly inhibited the growth of bacteria, whereas it was not inhibited the growth of fungal organisms used in this study. Conclusion: The results suggest that ethanolic extract of seeds possess antimicrobial properties which can be used for the treatment of infectious diseases.