Antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and n-hexane fractions of Carica pubescens rind and seeds

Previous research showed that the leaves of Carica pubescens effectively inhibit certain bacteria that cause diarrhoea. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal antibacterial activity among the fractions of the rind and seeds of C. pubescens. Samples of rind and seeds of C. pubescens were extracted by percolation method using ethanol and fractionated to obtain water, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate fractions. Antibacterial activity tests were carried out on Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus bacteria using the agar well method at fractions concentration of 12.5%, 25.0%, and 50.0%. The ethyl acetate fraction of rind and seeds showed inhibitory zone diameter in E. coli, S. aureus, and S. flexneri at concentrations ranging from 12% to 50%, whereas the water fraction showed no antibacterial activity. Based on phytochemical screening, ethyl acetate fraction of C. pubescens seeds contain flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenol. While the n-hexane fraction of C. pubescens rind contains alkaloids and tannins.