Vol. 10, Special Issue 4 (2021)

Author(s):
Ananthakumar KV and TR Pugazhenthi

Abstract:
The main objective of the study is extraction, identification of Prebiotic effect and demonstration of Antibacterial activity (Agar well diffusion method) of Orange (Citrus reticulata L.) peel against certain pathogenic bacteria. As microorganism are becoming more resistant and less effective to present day antibiotics and antimicrobials, this study focuses on antibacterial activity, prebiotic effect and future prophylactic potential of the orange peel. Biologically active compounds and ingredients present in the medicinal plants and its by products have always been of great interest to scientists. The antibacterial activity of orange peel extracts against bacterial strains like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus using agar well diffusion method with different concentrations of Samples (25, 50, 75, 100μl/well) were studied. The disc agar diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the extracts. The antibacterial activity was determined by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition. Antibacterial activity was more effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a zone of inhibition of 20mm and 16mm [at conc 50 & 75 µl], Salmonella typhi showed a zone of 24mm diameter [at conc 100 µl]. The Prebiotic activity assay, the lactobacilli cultures were streaked on MRS agar and incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis was streaked on Bifidobacterium agar in anaerobic conditions. The dilutions 10^-5, 10 ^-6 and 10^-7 were placed on an agar plate, MRS for lactobacilli cultures and Bifido for Bifidobacterium animalis. The prebiotic effect of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium at 8% dilution with 10^-6 concentration were found maximum as 8x10⁷ and 7.2x10⁷ respectively.