In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Cucumis L. and Momordica L. against Human Pathogens.

Plants are the rich source of compounds having antimicrobial properties against human pathogens. The present study has been carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Cucumis melo var. agrestis (morphotype I), Cucumis melo var. agrestis (morphotype II), Cucumis melo var. momordica L., Cucumis melo L., Momordica balsamina L., Momordica charantia L., Momordica dioica L. against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas flourescens, Bacillus coagulans, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Crude extract of Cucumis L. and Momordica L. species were prepared with methanol, acetone and water for the determination of antimicrobial properties. Maximum yield was reported in methanol extract while minimum in acetone for all plant species. The maximum zone of inhibition of about 32.3 ± 0.57 mm was found against Staphylococcus aureus in Cucumis melo L., 21.3 ± 0.57 mm for Pseudomonas flourescens in Cucumis melo var. agrestis (morphotype II), 17 ± 0 mm for Klebsiella pneumoniae in Momordica balsamina L., and 23.3 ± 0.57 mm for Bacillus coagulans in Cucumis melo var. agrestis (morphotype II) extracts, respectively. The most active antimicrobial plants species were reported to be Cucumis melo var. agrestis (morphotype I), Cucumis melo L. and Momordica charantia L. having antimicrobial activities against all tested microorganisms.