Abstract
Aims: The purpose of this study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extract of grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi Rutaceae) seeds. Materials and Methods: Aqueous and alcoholic (ethanol) extracts of grapefruit seeds "GSE" in 20% (w/v) concentration were investigated for activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans and a mixed oral flora. The level of antimicrobial effects was established using in vitro disc diffusion method. Their antibacterial and antifungal activity was compared to the activity of Chlorhexidine (CHX) solution in two concentrations (0.12 and 0.2%) as a control. Results: The aqueous GSE (20%) solution used in this study gave positive results with lethal effect on the tested organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 10mm-18mm in diameter, which is comparable to that of chlorhexidine (7mm - 22mm) and (13mm - 20mm) for 0.12% and 0.2% solutions respectively. Ethanolic GSE did not show any antimi-crobial activity. Conclusions: Aqueous GSE has a good antimicrobial effect, which makes it a good natural preparation for use as antiseptic or disinfectant.
Highlights
The use of herbal medicine is widely spread and growing (1)
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is a commercial product derived from the seeds and pulp of grapefruit (6, 7)
GSE produced the largest zone of inhibition for normal flora (18mm) (Table, 1), but exerted lower activity on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (10mm)
Summary
The use of herbal medicine is widely spread and growing (1). Plants have been exploited for the treatment of many infections and diseases because those plants readily contain substances for defense against attacks by insects, herbivores and microorganisms (2). The citrus fruits make a group of plants of great medicinal importance (3). The therapeutic efficacy of citrus fruits such as grape fruits is supported by the facts that they contain different classes of polyphenolic flavenoids that have been shown to exert antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities (4, 5). Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is a commercial product derived from the seeds and pulp of grapefruit (6, 7). The present study contributes to the identification of the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the self – made aqueous and ethanolic extracts of GSs and to compare those effects www.rafidaindentj.net
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