PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS OF WATERMELON

ABSTRACT Despite the predominant view that watermelon is essentially water and sugar,watermelon is really a supplement dense food. It gives high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and it gives abnormal amounts of nutrients, minerals, and cell reinforcements and only few calories. The phytochemical analysis of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) extracts was carried out qualitatively using accepted laboratory techniques, in addition the antimicrobial activity of the plant extract against some selected bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, NCTC 8236, ACCC), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923 &CVCC), Escherichia coli, E. coli (ATCC 25922, ACCC), and one fungus (Candida albicans, ATCC 7596, CVCC) and fungi was investigated. The result indicated that the plant extract contains saponins, carotenoids, glycosides, alkaloids,sterols, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates and reducing sugars.The antimicrobial activity study showed strong susceptibility of watermelon (Citrus lanatus) against the tested microorganisms and it was also compared with selected antibiotics.However, its activity varies with the nature of the solvent used for extraction, and the part of the watermelon plant and the tested microorganisms. The result of the present study indicated that plant of Citrulluslanatus contained bioactive components with potent antibacterial as well as antifungal activity. Keywords: fatty acids; watermelon; antibiotics; chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) ; Automatic Amino Acid Analyzer.