COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIALS OF CARICA PAPAYA AND SOLANUM TUBEROSUM PEEL AQEOUS EXTRACT

This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of aqueous leaf extracts of Carica papaya (pawpaw) and Solanum tuberosum (potato) against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Standard qualitative phytochemical screening was performed, and antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated using the disc diffusion assay, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were determined through the broth dilution method. The phytochemical analysis revealed a markedly richer profile in Carica papaya, which tested positive for phenols, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. In contrast, Solanum tuberosum contained only saponins, tannins, and flavonoids. In the antimicrobial assays, both extracts exhibited weak activity. The disc diffusion test showed small zones of inhibition, with Solanum tuberosum demonstrating marginally greater antibacterial activity than Carica papaya. Crucially, the MIC for all tested bacteria was a high 200 mg/mL, with MBC values exceeding this concentration, indicating only a bacteriostatic effect. Antifungal activity was negligible, with MIC and MFC values for all fungi exceeding 200 mg/mL. It is concluded that while Carica papaya leaves possess a diverse range of phytochemicals, the crude aqueous extracts of both plants show limited potential as effective standalone antimicrobial agents at the tested concentrations. The findings suggest the need for solvent optimization, bioassay-guided fractionation to isolate active principles, and synergy studies to fully explore their therapeutic applications.