PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION OF Citrus paradisi AQUEOUS PEEL EXTRACT ON SURFACE WOUND OF WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT

Citrus paradisi is an important member of Citrus genus from the family, Rutaceae. Generally, members of this genus fruit and their juices are particularly noteworthy for their rich content of bioactive compounds and their derivatives generally exhibit antimicrobial properties against both bacteria and fungi. This study evaluates both the bioactive compounds present and the antimicrobial properties of C. paradisi aqueous peel extract. The effects on microbial load was evaluated using standard doses graded at (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) of the aqueous extract of C. paradisi peel, which was used only on the first three groups of experimental animals. The results obtained from the tests carried out showed that C. paradisi, has some important phytochemicals present and the aqueous peel extract when applied externally on the surface wounds of the wistar rat had an effect on the microbes present and the microbial load, with the 100 mg/kg dose having the most significant effect (33.67±5.24^a ) which when compared to the positive control (12.67±0.88^a) is almost as effective as it is, similarity in superscripts indicating no significant difference (p> 0.05) between treatments while significant differences was observed when compared with the negative control (1230.70±10.65^d). Therefore, the results obtained from the study showed that C. paradisi does have phytochemicals present and antimicrobial properties though its effect seems to be directly dependent on the type of bacteria present and the dosage of the extract administered as the effect it has on the microbial load seems to increase as the dosage increases.