PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF WHITE FLUID FROM CARICA PAPAYA (PAW-PAW) ON ENTERIC ORGANISM (E-COLI AND SALMONELLA TYPHI)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the fresh white latex of Carica papaya (pawpaw) obtained from a paw-paw plantation in Ugwuaji, Enugu State, Nigeria, against selected enteric pathogens, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, and steroids, while anthraquinones were absent. The enteric organisms were isolated, identified, and confirmed using cultural, microscopic, and biochemical methods. Antimicrobial testing using the agar well diffusion method demonstrated that the latex exhibited dosedependent inhibitory effects on both bacteria, with E. coli showing greater susceptibility than S. typhi. The positive control (ciprofloxacin) produced the highest zones of inhibition, while the negative control (sterile distilled water) showed none, confirming the validity of the results. These findings indicate that Carica papaya latex contains biologically active compounds capable of inhibiting enteric pathogens, highlighting its potential as a natural antimicrobial agent and a possible alternative for managing infections caused by E. coli and S. typhi.
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