The study aimed to explore the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial
properties of L. aegyptiaca Mill. [Syn.: Luffa cylindrica M.Roem.] (Cucurbitaceae) leaf
and fruit extracts. Standard procedures were used to measure the phytochemical
constituents, and the extracts were tested against six bacterial and three fungal strains
using the disc diffusion method for bacteria and the agar-well diffusion method for
fungi. The results of the phytochemical analysis showed that the floral extract had
higher levels of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and oxalate. In terms of antimicrobial
activity, the methanol extract of the leaf was found to be more effective than the fruit
extract against the bacterial strains tested. The study suggests that the methanol
extract of L. aegyptiaca's leaf and fruit has significant potential for developing effective
treatments for fungal diseases and more efficient antibacterial agents.
Keywords: L. aegyptiaca, GC-MS, FT-IR, antimicrobial activity, methanol extract