title: Antimicrobial activity of crude epicarp and seed extracts from mature avocado fruit (Persea americana) of three cultivars.
abstract: The epicarp and seed of Persea Americana Mill. var. Hass (Lauraceae), Persea Americana Mill. var. Shepard, and Persea americana Mill. var Fuerte cultivars of mature avocados (n = 3) were ground separately and extracted with both absolute ethanol and distilled water. Extracts were analyzed for antimicrobial activity using the microtiter broth microdilution assay against four Gram-positive bacteria, six Gram-negative bacteria, and one yeast. Antimicrobial activity against two molds was determined by the hole plate method. The ethanol extracts showed antimicrobial activity (104.2-416.7 microg/mL) toward both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (except Escherichia coli), while inhibition of the water extracts was only observed for Listeria monocytogenes (93.8-375.0 microg/mL) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (354.2 microg/mL). The minimum concentration required to inhibit Zygosaccharomyces bailii was 500 microg/mL for the ethanol extracts, while no inhibition was observed for the water extracts. No inhibition by either ethanol or water extracts was observed against Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus flavus.
authors.affiliation: School of Land and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Raymond.Chia@csiro.au
authors.forename: Teck Wah
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Raymond Chia
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dykes
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D027421:Persea / Q000254:growth & development; D019441:Plant Epidermis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts