Yismaw Gizachew, Tessema Belay, Mulu Andargachew, Tiruneh Moges
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Ethiop Med J. 2008 Jan;46(1):71-7.
Carica papaya family Caricaceacae is one of the herbal remedies, which has recently become a subject of research focus. It is used in traditional medicine for variety of purposes in treating infectious and noninfectious diseases.
The objective of this study was to assess the antibacterial effect of papaya seed extract against bacterial pathogens isolated from wound, urine and stool.
This analytical experimental study was conducted in Jimma University, School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Microbiology laboratory between February to March 2005. The antibacterial activity of methanol extract of papaya seed was investigated against specific pathogenic bacteria isolated from wound, urine and stool by an agar dilution technique and the crude preparation was assessed by an agar diffusion technique. The growth or inhibition of control strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as the clinical isolates of these bacteria were determined in growth media.
Results obtained in this study indicate that the minimum inhibitory concentration of papaya seed extract for 50% of the test bacteria was 18.38mg/ml and for S. typhi the MIC was at 11.8 mg/ml of extract. However, the growth inhibitory effect of papaya seed extract was not observed for P. aeruginosa up to 26.25 mg /ml of extract. Even though, the minimum bactericidal concentration is higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration of papaya seed extract (13.13 mg/ml, 11.8 mg/ml respectively) against S. typhi control and clinical isolates, the minimum bactericidal concentration for 50% of the tested bacteria was found to be similar with the minimum inhibitory concentration of the test bacteria,
Papaya seed could be used as an effective antibacterial agent for the tested organisms. Nevertheless, preclinical studies including invivo animal models and clinical trial on the effect of the seed are essential before advocating large-scale therapy.
番木瓜科番木瓜属植物是草药疗法之一，最近已成为研究热点。它在传统医学中用于治疗多种传染性和非传染性疾病。
本研究旨在评估番木瓜种子提取物对从伤口、尿液和粪便中分离出的细菌病原体的抗菌作用。
本分析性实验研究于2005年2月至3月在吉姆马大学医学检验技术学院微生物实验室进行。采用琼脂稀释技术研究番木瓜种子甲醇提取物对从伤口、尿液和粪便中分离出的特定病原菌的抗菌活性，并用琼脂扩散技术评估粗制剂。在生长培养基中测定大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、伤寒沙门氏菌和铜绿假单胞菌对照菌株以及这些细菌临床分离株的生长或抑制情况。
本研究获得的结果表明，番木瓜种子提取物对50%的受试细菌的最低抑菌浓度为18.38mg/ml，对伤寒沙门氏菌的最低抑菌浓度为11.8mg/ml提取物。然而，在提取物浓度高达26.25mg/ml时，未观察到番木瓜种子提取物对铜绿假单胞菌的生长抑制作用。尽管番木瓜种子提取物对伤寒沙门氏菌对照株和临床分离株的最低杀菌浓度高于最低抑菌浓度（分别为13.13mg/ml、11.8mg/ml），但发现50%受试细菌的最低杀菌浓度与受试细菌的最低抑菌浓度相似。
番木瓜种子可作为受试生物的有效抗菌剂。然而，在提倡大规模治疗之前，包括体内动物模型和种子效果的临床试验在内的临床前研究至关重要。
