Comparative Assessment of Vitamin Contents and Antifungal Activity of Seeds and Leaves of Unripe Pawpaw (Carica papaya L.)

Abstract

The results of a comparative study on vitamin compositions of unripe C. papaya showed that vitamin A and C contents of aqueous and ethanol leaves and seeds extracts respectively, was higher than that of vitamin E. However, vitamin A and C contents in the aqueous leaves and seeds extracts respectively, was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of ethanol leaves and seeds extracts. The in vitro antifungal activity was examined against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Penicilliumnotatum and Rhizopus stolonifera by using the surface plate method. The aqueous leaves extract observation of the fungi plates after 48 h of incubation showed clear zones of inhibition at higher concentrations and little or no zone of inhibition observed in P. notatumand R. stolonifer at lower concentrations of aqueous leaves and seeds extracts. Therefore, aqueous leaves extract is of great importance in the discovery of new drugs for the pharmaceutical industry.