ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF SEED EXTRACTS OF CUCURBITA PEPO

Locally collected, dried, defatted and powdered seeds of Cucurbita pepo were extracted with solvents. Extracts obtained were separately tested for antibacterial and antifungal activities by a disc diffusion method. Test microorganisms were bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli) and fungi (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus). The results were obtained in the form of an inhibition zone. When compared with the control, results showed significant antimicrobial activities in extracts, effective against all the tested microorganisms.