Phytochemical Screening and Antifungal Effect of Carica papaya
Ikpe V.P.O (PhD)
Department of Biochemistry
Caritas University, Enugu, Nigeria
Email:ikpeforsuccess@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants have extensively been used to cure and in some cases to manage diseases including infections by pathogenic organisms. The objective of the study was to ascertain quantitatively the phytochemical constituents, the antifungal effect and Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) of carica papaya latex. The phytochemical screening for the chemical Composition was conducted with the unripe fruit, back and inside (latex) by making incisions and colleting the exuding liquid. The MIC and antifungal effect of the latex were studied at different concentrations of 1%, 5%, 10% and 20% using two test organisms namely Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. The constituents included saponin (3.8 %), flavonoid (4.2 %), glycoside (4.4 %) for the back and alkaloid(3.8%), saponin (4.7 %), tannin( 1.2 %), phenol(0.23 %),essential oil(3.8%) for the inside. Carica papaya latex extract showed inhibitory effect against Candida albicans only. The zones of inhibition in millimeters were 8.15±0.05, 10.00±0.00, 12.88±0.15, 17.38±0.15 for the different concentrations respectively. The MIC was 0.25%. Carica papaya latex inhibited the growth of Candida albicans.
Keywords: paw-paw, extract, constituents, antifungal, effect, MIC.
