STUDIES ON THE ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF LUFFA CYLINDRICA (Linn) FRUIT

To investigate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Ethanolic extract of Luffa cylindrica (Linn). The extract wasprepared from fresh fruit of Luffa cylindrica by hot continuous percolation method in Soxhlet apparatus. Ethanolic extractof Luffa cylindrica (Linn) were tested for antibacterial and antifungal efficacy against Gram positive & Gram negativebacteria and Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans organism. The Ethanolic extract was found tobe the most effective and showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against the entire organism tested. The Zone ofInhibition (mm) at various concentrations of Ethanolic extract of Luffa cylindrica was found to the range 50 mg/ml to150mg/ml on tested all the test organisms. This study scientifically supports the usage of whole plant as a remedy forvarious superficial bacterial and fungal infections in traditional medicine.