BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE INDIGENOUS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES OF THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION

This work aims to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of ethanol, methanol, and water extracts of cherry (Prunus avium) and acetone extracts of quince (Cydonia oblonga), hexane & ethyl acetate extracts of Handh (Taraxacum officinale), acetone & methanol extracts of sustchal (Malva neglecta) of the selected minor fruits and vegetables of Indian Himalayan Region. Agar well diffusion method has been used to determine the antimicrobial activities and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of different plant extracts against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two strains of fungus (A. niger, A. flavus). The extracts exhibited both antibacterial and antifungal activities against tested microorganisms. The concentration increase of the extracts resulted in the increase of inhibition zone values resulting in the increase in the antimicrobial activities of the extracts. Both pulp and peel of Quince (Cydonia oblonga) exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. Acetone Quince (Cydonia oblonga) and Handh (Taraxacum officinale) extract showed significant antibacterial activity (P < 0.05) against all tested bacterial strains.