COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES ON EXTRACTS OF FRESH AND DRIED LEAVES OF Carica papaya ON SELECTED CLINICAL BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL ISOLATES
Afuape A.O., Ajayi, J.O., and Adewunmi A.R.
Science Laboratory Technology Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere Abeokuta.
E-mail: afuapeolajumoke@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
The importance of herbs in the management of human ailments cannot be over emphasized. It is clear that the plant kingdom harbours an inexhaustible source of active ingredient invaluable in the management of many infectious and communicable diseases. The frequency and diversity of life-threatening infection caused by pathogenic micro-organisms has increased steadily worldwide and it is becoming an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immune-compromised patients especially in developing countries. The efficacy of treatments with Carica papaya is dependent on the quantity of the different chemical substances present in the preparation. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of both fresh and dried leaves of Carica papaya against bacteria and fungus of medical importance was carried out. The aqueous and ethanol extract of both dried and fresh leaves were tested at 25, 50 and 100mg/ml concentration on both bacteria and fungi isolate using the disc diffusion method. Result showed significant broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungus. The aqueous extract was more effective than the ethanol extract for the bacterial activity while for the fungal activity, the ethanol extract was more effective than the aqueous extract. The fresh leaf extract was potent against some of the bacteria which standard antibiotic were not able to inhibit. Carica papaya leaves showed a better antifungal activity than the antibacterial activity. Demonstration of antimicrobial activity against the test isolates is an indication that there’s possibility of sourcing alternative antibiotic substances in this plant for the development of newer antimicrobial agents.