Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF CITRULLUS LANATUS SEED AGAINST SOME PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

Nwankwo, I.U, Onwuakor, C.E*. Nnadi, C.J and Nwosu V.C.

Abstract

The phytochemical and antibacterial potentials of C. lanatus were evaluated. This was carried out by the crude extraction of the seeds with hot water, ethanol and methanol. The extracts were used to verify the occurrence of phytochemicals. Stock cultures of test organism such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Proteus mirabilis and Streptococcus pyogenes were used to test the antibacterial effects of the extracts using the agar well diffusion method. The extracts showed presence of antibacterial activities which were compared to antibacterial activity of a commercial antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) against the test organisms. At 62.5mg, ethanol extract showed a week inhibitory effect against Proteus mirabilis (3mm), Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (2mm respectively). Antibacterial activity of the extract was pronounced at higher concentrations (100mg, 500mg and 250mg) for all the extracts. Hot and cold water extracts showed the presence of phenol and methanol extract showed highest bacterial activity. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenol, saponnin, tannin, flavonoid, alkaloid and cyanogenic glycoside. From this research, watermelon seeds when properly extracted and purified, acts as antibiotics which can be used in treatment of infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms in relation to orthodox medicine.

Keywords: Citrus lanatus seed, phytochemical analysis, antibacterial activity, pathogenic microorganisms.