Abstract:
In this study, the fixed oil of Capsicum annum was extracted from seeds with n-hexane at room temperature. The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
GC-MS analysis of the studied oil revealed the presence of 27 components.
The major constituents were: octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (56.57%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (17.60%).Minor constituents were octadecenoic acid methyl ester (5.62%), methyl stearate (5.50%), and stigmasterol (2.37%).
The oil was screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities using six standard human pathogens. Agar well diffusion technique used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the oil against two Gram positive (Bacillus subtili and Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa) bacteria and two fungal species (Aspergillusniger and Candida albicans).
The results indicate that pithecellobium dulce oil possess bioactive compounds having significant antimicrobial properties.
