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Journal of Medicinal
Plants Research Vol. 3 (5), pp. 429–432,
May, 2009
ISSN
1996-0875 © 2009 Academic Journals
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Full Length Research
Paper
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Antibacterial qualities
and phytochemical screening of the oils of Curcubita pepo
and Brassica nigra
R. K. Obi1*, F. C. Nwanebu1, U. U.
Ndubuisi2 and N. M. Orji3
1Department
of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,
P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
2Department
of Microbiology, University of Uyo, P. M. B. 1017, Uyo, Akwa
Ibom State, Nigeria.
3Department
of Biological Sciences, Anambra State University, Uli, P.
O. Box 02, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
robertobi_2003@yahoo.ca.
Accepted
15 May, 2009 |
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Abstract |
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The oils of 2 seeds, Brassica nigra (black mustard)
and Curcubita pepo (flutted pumpkin) obtained from St. Paul’s
catholic church, Owerri and Ihiagwa market respectively, were extracted
using the Soxhlet extractor. The antibacterial activities of the
extracted oils on 2 fresh hospital isolates, Staphylococcus aureus
and Escherischia coli were determined using the Kirby
Bauer disc diffusion method of sensitivity testing. Results obtained
showed that the oil from C. pepo produced a higher zone of
inhibition of 60% on S. aureus which is higher than that of the
oil of B. nigra with a zone of inhibition of 40%. However, these
2 oil extracts showed similar inhibitory effects on E. coli.
Results of phytochemical analyses of the extracts reveal that the oil
from C. pepo contains tannins, flavonoids, saponins, cyanogenic
glycosides and cardiac glycosides, while the oil from B. nigra
consists of tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. These seeds, apart from
their roles as food additives and supplements, they may also be utilized
as effective and cheap sources of antibacterial agents for the treatment
of bacterial infections.
Key words:
Oil, Escherischia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, antibacterial,
Curcubita pepo, Brassica nigra. |
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