ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THE ETHYL ACETATE EXTRACT OF Carica papaya STEM BARK

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract of Carica papaya stem bark and to analyse its phytochemical constituents. The antimicrobial activity of the stem bark extract was evaluated against clinical isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Aspergillus niger) using agar-well diffusion method. A dark brown coloured extract with a yield of 3.16% was obtained. The extract inhibited the growth of seven out of eight test microorganisms with an inhibitory zone diameter (IZD) of 11mm18mm. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of a number of secondary metabolites which included alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and anthraquinones, while terpenoids and phenols were not detected. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry identified 28 bioactive components. This study shows that the ethyl acetate extract of Carica papaya stem bark has antibacterial and antifungal activity.