In vitro Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activities of Zea mays’ Stigma and Carica papaya Seeds Hydro-Ethanolic Extracts

Abstract

Corn and especially maize stigma are traditionally used to facilitate urinary and digestive elimination functions that favour certain diseases such as urinary tract infections. Similarly, papaya seeds possess potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which improve digestive health. The above activities of these parts of plants aforesaid might be associated with antibacterial activities. We aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of these two food crops. Each plant materials collected were air dried in shade, dried, and ground into fine powder, which were soaked in solvents (water: 30% - ethanol 70%) and shacked for 48 h. After filtering, every mixture was concentrated by using rotavapor and the extracts were prepared 100 mg/ml in sterile distilled water for antibacterial test. The antibacterial activities and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test of the extracts were assessed by microdilution method associated with spreading in agar medium. Both extracts showed bacteriostatic activity. The MIC values ranged from 25 to 50 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the two extracts were at least 50mg/ml on each of three bacterial species studied.