ABSTRACT
Citrus sinensis, commonly known as sweet orange, has many medicinal properties and is widely used against various ailments, such as colic, upset stomach, cancer, diuretic, cormunative, immuno enhancing, stomachic, tonic to digestive system, immune system, and skin. This study was aimed to determine the proximate composition, phytochemical composition, and antimicrobial potential of the aqueous extract of Citrus senenis (pomace) against a range of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The pomace extract was also subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening to detect the presence of various phytochemicals such as phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, eugenols, flavonoids, tannins, and reducing sugars. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using an agar well dilution technique against five bacterial strains and three fungal strains using the Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract were determined using the MIC and MBC, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the crude extract against selected bacterial isolates was also evaluated using the MHA method. It was demonstrated that the microbial strains of public health importance, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, were significantly inhibited by the extract, suggesting its potential applications in combating bacterial infections.
