Microbial Quality and Safety of Selected Fruits and Vegetable and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Plant Extracts against Potential Pathogenic Isolates.

Abstract

Fruit and vegetables are vital source of nutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and fiber for humans. However, they are easily prone to contamination with diverse microorganisms. Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the microbial qualityof avocado (Perseaamericana), papaya (Carica papaya) and tomatoes (SolanumlycopersicumL.) and to assess anti-microbial activity of extracts of Curcuma longa (Turmeric), Ocimumbasilicum L. and Ginger (Zingiberofficinale). A total of 75 samples ofavocado, papaya and tomato were purchased from four markets namely Bishishe, Kochi, Ajip and Yebu for microbiological analysis following standard methods. The microbiological analysis indicates that all the samples contained high mean bacterial load ranging between 6.3log cfu/g and 7.4log cfu/g. The presenceof yeast with mean counts ranging between 6.1 log cfu/g and 6.5logcfu/g. The study also detected the presence of mold. Thehighest bacterial counts were recorded in papaya samples obtained from Bishishe market (7.5 log cfu/g) and the highest mean mold and yeast counts of 6.5 log cfu/g were recorded in tomato samples from Yebu market. Among the isolates, the mostprevalent spoilage microbes were coliforms, Staphylococcusand Pseudomonas with decreasing order of frequency of occurrence. All the isolated bacteria showed statistically significant between markets at 1% significant level. Antimicrobial activity evaluation of extracts of Curcuma longa (Turmeric), Basil (Ocimumbasilicum L.)and Ginger (Zingiberofficinale)showed poor activity ranging between 0.6mm to 2.3mm of inhibition zone. Whereas, the combined extracts of Curcuma longa (Turmeric), Basil (Ocimumbasilicum L.) and Ginger (Zingiberofficinale)shown relatively better effect ranging between 1.25 to 2.5 mmdiameters of inhibition zoneagainst isolatedbacterial species. The presence of such spoilage microbes in these fruits and vegetable may cause health risk on the consumers. Therefore, Fruits and vegetable traders and consumers should exercise strict hygienic measures to prevent health risks due to contaminants.