European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF BANANA PEEL AND LEMON FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTS

Rana A. Mohsien*

ABSTRACT

Several of medicinal plants are screened for potential antimicrobial activity such as banana (Musa paradisiaca) and lemon (Citrus limonum) because of the increasing failure of chemotherapeutics and the antibiotic resistance exhibited by pathogenic microbial infections. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of alcoholic banana peel and lemon juice extracts against Gram negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae, pseudomonas aeroginosa) and Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus mutans) bacteria isolated from human infections, the procedure was carried out by well agar diffusion method. The fresh extract of banana peel showed good inhibitory effect only on (pseudomonas aeroginosa) with no effect against other types of organism while lemon juice extract showed good inhibitory effect on all tested bacteria, but the mixture (synergistic effect) between banana and lemon extracts show a significant inhibitory effect against all tested bacteria. These results can be useful for future prospects to replacement of medicine in treatment of infections caused by these pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords: Musa paradisiaca, Citrus limonum, Antimicrobial Effect, Klebsiella pneumoniae, pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and streptococcus mutans