Antibacterial Activity of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Seed Extracts Against Some Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of water, ethanol and acetone Myristica fragrans seed extract tested against four bacteria species; two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The susceptibility of these different bacterial species toward the extracts of this plants seed was compared with each other and between crust and bulb and with selected antibiotic (cipropholexin) used as positive control. Results showed that ethanol and acetone extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against gram positive bacterial species only, the diameter of inhibition zone reached 25mm against Staph. aureus by crust extract. Crust extract showed antibacterial activity more than the pulp extract. It is concluded that this plant can be indispensible source for secondary metabolites.