Screening of fruit peel extracts for their antimicrobial activity on selected microorganisms

Date of Publication

2010

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Subject Categories

Biology

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Thesis Adviser

Patricio Elvin L. Cantiller

Abstract/Summary

Eight fruits commonly found in the Philippine market were utilized in the study. The following fruits were purchased from leading supermarkets in Metro Manila: Avocado (Persea americana), Chico (Achras sapota), Dalandan (Citrus aurantium L.), Lanzones (Lansium domesticum), Mango (Mangifera indica), Papaya (Carica papaya L.), Pomelo (Citrus grandis) and Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum). The peel extracts were obtained using the solvent extraction method with the following solvents: methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and hexane. The modified Kirby-Bauer disc-agar diffusion method was performed to screen the antimicrobial activity of the fruit peel extracts on the following test microorganisms: Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and a fungus, Candida albicans. The results of the study showed that all the fruit peel extracts inhibited the growth of at least one of the four test microorganisms. Dalandan and Mango inhibited all the test microorganisms while Avocado, Chico, Papaya and Rambutan inhibited three of the four test microorganisms. Moreover, Pomelo and Lanzones only inhibited two and one of the four test microorganisms, respectively. The study also showed that among the extracting solvents, methanol exhibited the most number of zones of inhibition on all the test microorganisms. The present study validates the presence of antimicrobial compounds in the different fruits and also showed the effect of using extracting solvents of different polarity. Further systematic screening on these phytochemicals may eventually lead to plant-based antimicrobials that are equally effective, cheaper, and does not possess any side effects as compared to synthetic compounds.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTU019076

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F, Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

1 computer disc ; 4 3/4 in.

Keywords

Fruit--Analysis

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Embargo Period

4-18-2021

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