In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Hexane: Petroleum Ether Extracts from Fruits of Momordica charantia L.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present study, the antimicrobial activity from fruit extract of Momordica charantia L. using combination of hexane and petroleum ether at different concentrations (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) was assessed and tested against four Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus), four Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia sp.) and a fungus (Candida albicans). Among the four Gram-positive bacteria tested, Bacillus cereus was found to be the most susceptible bacteria with the percentage inhibition of 109.5 ± 3.69% at 100% hexane (1mg/ml). Nevertheless, Klebsiella pneumonia was found to be the most susceptible Gram-negative bacteria with the percentage inhibition of 125.0 ± 5.27% using 40% hexane while the fungus Candida albicans demonstrated maximum inhibition with a percentage inhibition of 297.2 ± 6.80% using 100% hexane. Thus, the in vitro study of hexane : petroleum ether fruit extract of Momordica charantia L. has shown its potency as a promising antimicrobial agent towards a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms tested.