Antimicrobial activity of aqueous extract of Citrullus colocynthis L.fruit

Abstract

The aqueous extract of C. Colocynthis fruit was tested for its antimicrobial activity against certain pathogenic fungal and bacterial isolates using agar well diffusion method. The activity of the extract was determined through measuring the diameter of inhibition zone and minimal inhibitory concentration. The study revealed that all the fungal and bacterial isolates are sensitive to the extract . Fungal isolates are more sensitive than bacterial isolates. All concentrations of the extract used in this experiment showed antifungal activity against the Cladosporium cladosporides.
The activity of Citrullus colocynthis L. extract is significantly better than the standard antifungal drugs, nystatin and fluconazole in a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml .The inhibitory effect of C. colocynthis fruit aqueous extract may attributed to active compounds present in the extract.