MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L. (bitter gourd) AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE CONTROL OF BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL GROWTH.

The plants use for medicinal purposes have been experienced by an extensive proportion of population of population for many centuries. The present study was designed to formulate cost effective dietary interventions to prevent and treat certain microbial diseases. The current experiment was conducted for evaluation of antifungal and antibacterial effects of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), which is locally named as Karella. All parts of bitter gourd were used including seeds, pulp and skin. Its methanolic extracts were taken to check its antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by paper disc diffusion test. Antifungal efficacy against selected species of Penicillium and Aspergillus was done by Agar Well-Diffusion Method. Broth Dilution method and Agar Well-Diffusion Method were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Zones of inhibition diameters were 11mm, 7mm, 11mm and 9mm for Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, respectively. There was no zone of inhibition against MRSA. The zones of inhibition for bitter gourd seed were 12mm, 8mm, 12mm and 11mm for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi, respectively. The MIC of bitter gourd pulp against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum was 400mg/ml and 600mg/ml, respectively. The MIC of bitter gourd seed against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum was 300mg/ml and 400mg/ml, respectively. Taking together, bitter ground was found a cost effective antibacterial and antifungal agent, it may be used an effective alternate remedial option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]