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BACKGROUND: Papaya (Carica papaya) is one of the herbal remedies, which has recently became a subject of research focus. It is used in traditional medicine for a variety of purposes besides its common anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, oxytoxic and ant infective effects. In this paper we report the antibacterial effects of aqueous papaya seed extracts against three pneumonia causing bacteria. METHODS: The study was conducted between November 2000 and June 2001. The antibacterial activity of the crude aqueous extract of papaya (C. papaya) seeds was investigated against specific pneumonia causing bacterial by an agar dilution technique. The growth or inhibition of the standard test microorganisms as well as clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus & Klebsiella pneumoniae were determined in growth media. Fresh ripe papaya fruits were purchased from a local market and the seeds were collected, thoroughly cleaned with distilled water, sun dried, powdered, sieved with a mesh and macerated. The macerate was filtered through No.1,18.5 cm Jhatman filter, cooled immediately to -20 °C and lyophilized. The powder obtained was weighed, diluted with distilled water and the concentration determined. RESULTS: All the test organisms were successfully inhibited by11.8 mg/ml of the extract except Streptococcus pnuemoniae standard test organism which was inhibited by 18.38 mg/ ml of media, indicating that Streptococcus pneumoniae, clinical isolate, is the least sensitive.CONCLUSION: Papaya (C. papaya) seed could be used as an effective antibacterial agent Further purification and extraction of the active principle would give a true antibacterial activity comparable to standard antibiotics. Nevertheless, clinical trial on the effects of the seed is essential before advocating large-scale therapy. |
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