ANTIMICROBIAL AND CYTOTOXIC PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF MUSA SAPIENTUM L. SUBSP. SYLVESTRIS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the different extracts of Musa sapientum L. subsp. sylvestris fruits. The methanolic extracts of Musa sapientum L. subsp. sylvestris peel (MSPE), pulp (MSPU) and seed (MSSE) were investigated for antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method and for cytotoxic activity by Brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Good antimicrobial activity was shown by MSPU while moderate activity by MSPE against 5 gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Staphylococcus aureus) and 8 gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella typhi, Shigella boydii, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio mimicus, Vibrio parahemolyticus) bacteria and 3 fungi (Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Sacharomyces cerevaceae). Antimicrobial activity of MSSE against the organisms was insignificant. The order of Brine Shrimp lethality was found as Vincristine sulphate > MSPU > MSSE > MSPE. These findings suggest the potentiality of finding novel compounds with antimicrobial property in the investigated fruit.