PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL SCREENING OF SEED AND COAT OF CITRUS SINENSIS

Abstract

One of the most widely consumed citrus 
species is Citrus sinensis. Orange peels and 
seeds are waste products that come from the 
fruit and might have valuable 
phytonutrients that are relevant to biology.
Sweet orange peels, both fresh and dry, 
were macerated. Using accepted 
techniques, the total alkaloid, flavonoid, 
and tannin content was calculated. Using 
the disc diffusion method, antimicrobial 
activities were observed against five 
bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, 
Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas 
aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and 
Salmonella typhimurium) and three fungal 
strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus 
niger, and Penicillium notatum). The fresh 
peel extract had a higher total alkaloid, 
flavonoid, and tannin content than the dry 
peel extract. Comparing fresh and dry peel 
extracts, antimicrobial activities showed 
that the former had superior antibacterial 
activity against every bacterial strain and 
one fungus strain under investigation. On 
the other hand, the dried peel extract was 
more effective than the fresh peel extract in 
inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus niger 
and Penicillium notatum. This study looked 
at the antibacterial properties and phenolic 
content of peel extracts from fresh and dried 
Citrus sinensis