Determination of antibacterial activity of Carica papaya (pawpaw) extracts

Abstract

The quest for suitable and affordable alternatives in the face of increasing antimicrobial drugresistance has led researchers into exploring the use of plant extracts in the treatment of infections. Antibacterial activity of extracts of carica papaya (paw-paw) fruit was investigated using isolates from wound culture. These include: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and proteus species. These organisms were challenged with extracts from the seed, endocarp and epicarp.  The extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity as shown by their zones of inhibition and this was more pronounced with alcohol extracts than that of water.Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 1:64 while Enterococcus faecalis was the least sensitive. The extractswere also heat stable. The demonstration of antibacterial activity against both grampositive and gramnegative bacteria demonstrates that the paw-pawplant is a potential source for the productionof antimicrobial drugs.Researchers should be encouraged towards utilizing this plant as well as others with such potential in other to curb the menace of antimicrobial drug resistance in the near future.

Keywords: Carica papaya extracts, antibacterial activity