Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite Research Journal SHS Edition| Volume I, No.
I | November 2019
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Evaluation of Squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) Fruit Extract
as an Antibacterial Agent Against Staphylococcus aureus and
Escherichia coli
Julia G. Giere1, Mark Toledo2, Patrick Lagurin3, Larry Milanes Jr.4
1
Senior High School, International School, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Cavite
INTRODUCTION
Bacteria can be resistant to multiple antibiotics and
the world is fast approaching a time when antibiotics
will not work on some bacterial infections. New
antimicrobial compounds are urgently necessary.
Bacteria can be resistant to multiple antibiotics and we
are fast approaching a time when antibiotics will not
work on some bacterial infections. New antimicrobial
compounds are urgently necessary (Monte et al. 2014).
Plants were used to cure diseases and infections during
ancient time. Medicinal plants are cheap, easily
available and affordable. The medicinal importance of
plants lies in some chemical substances that produce a
specific physiological action on the human body. The
most essential of these bioactive constituents of plants
are alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and
phenolic compounds (Francis et al. 2016).
The uses of antibiotics are widespread in clinical
medicine, agriculture, and veterinary promote the
development of antibiotic resistances among infectious
microbial strains and eventually reflects a very serious
problem in the treatment of pathogenic microbes (Kapil,
2005). Scientists showed that the plants had medicinal
properties for their biological activities ranging from
antimicrobial to antitumor. The antimicrobial activity of
plants has many applications, including raw and
processed food preservation, pharmaceuticals,
alternative medicine and natural therapies (Rajakaruna
et al. 2002).
Pumpkin is gourd-like squash belongs to genus
Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae. It normally
belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbitamixta,
Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata and its
native is North America. They naturally have a thick,
orange or yellow shell. Pumpkins are broadly grown for
commercial use, and are used both in food and
recreation. In India, it is a most consuming vegetable.
1
Pumpkins are considered to be a fruit and it contains 90
percent water. Pumpkins have antioxidant beta-
carotene, which help to improve the immune function
and can reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease
and cancer (Muruganantham et al. 2016)
Antioxidants and flavonoids are known to have a
correlation with antimicrobial properties. And the
Cucurbitaceae family with squash, pumpkin, zucchini,
and some gourds are known to have polyphenols,
alkaloids, flavanoids, carbohydrates, terpenoids,
tannins, saponins, proteins, and amino acids. Flavonoids
are a family of plant-derived compounds with
potentially exploitable activities, including direct
antibacterial activity, synergism with antibiotics, and
suppression of bacterial virulence (Cushnie et al. 2011)
When single-cell (or suspended) bacteria switch into
the biofilm lifestyle, they become less susceptible to
antimicrobials, imposing the need for anti-biofilms
research. Flavonoids are among the most extensively
studied natural compounds with an unprecedented
amount of bioactivity claims. Most studies focus on the
antibacterial effects against suspended cells; fewer
reports have researched their anti-biofilm properties
(Manner et al. 2013).
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study generally aims to determine the anti-
microbial property of Cucurbita maxima Duchesne
(Squash) fruit extract as an antibacterial agent on
Staphylococcus aureus.
Specifically, the study will answer the following
questions:
 What is the difference between
commercially available antibiotic and the
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne (Squash) fruit
extract in terms of inhibitory activity of S.
aureus?
 Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite Research Journal SHS Edition| Volume I, No. I | November 2019
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 What will be the growth inhibition of S.
aureus and E. coli in varying concentrations:
1. 20 % squash-ethanol concentration
2. 30% squash-ethanol concentration
3. 20% squash-distilled water
concentration
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Research Design
This is an experimental study that aims to produce
and evaluate the anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant and
flavonoids of the extract of Cucurbita maxima
Duchesne (Squash) that used a mechanistic method of
analysis for providing a clear and predictive study. The
method focus mainly on the flavonoids and antioxidant
of Cucurbita m. Duchesne (Squash) that is known to
reduce numbers of bacteria that can lead to corrosive
complications and blocks the effect of free radicals and
anti-bacterial that both would be expected to decrease
number of organisms.
Research Method
Plant Collection
The fruit will be purchased in a public market in
Dasmariñas, Cavite. The fruit should be in good shape
with no rot and not overripe.
Plant Extraction
The fruit will be cleaned well with water, air dried,
and placed into a blender to be grounded into powder.
One hundred and twenty (120 g) grams of the
powdered material was macerated in 240 mL of ethanol
and refluxed exhaustively. The extract was filtered
after 24 hours with the aid of sterile cotton.
Preparation of Nutrient Agar
Nutrient agar medium was prepared by dissolving
2.8g of nutrient agar in 100ml distilled water. The
solution was sterilized in an autoclave at 121 oC (1.1N)
pressure) for 15 min. The suspension was cooled and
poured into sterile Petri-dishes to solidify. The agar
depth of the medium was 4.0mm (Malu, 2009)
This process will be used for this study for the
culturing of the bacteria.
Antibacterial Assay
The antibacterial potential of Citrus maxima
Duchesne (Squash) will be tested by applying bacteria
on the surface of the nutrient agar.
2
The antibacterial activity will be determined by the
diffusion method of Kirby Bauer described by Duguid
et al, (1989).
Zone of Inhibition
After 2 weeks of observation of bacteria, the area
with no bacteria from the surface of wafer will show the
result if Cucurbita maxima Duchesne (Squash) is
proven as an antibacterial agent S. aureus.
Data Gathering
From the observation of the growth of bacteria we
can measure the effectiveness of Cucurbita m.
Duchesne (Squash) as antibacterial agent and determine
results which we can obtain from Department of
Science and Technology – STD.
The data gathered will be computed and subjected to
statistical treatment using one way Turkey’s test for
comparison
REFERENCES
[1] Francis L.G., Foster S.J., Richards R.G. (2016)
An Introduction to Staphylococcus Aureus,
And Techniques for Identifying and
Quantifying S. aureus Adhesins in Relation to
Adhesion to Biomaterials: review Retrieved
from:
http://www.ecmjournal.org/journal/papers/vol0
04/pdf/v004
[2] Jones (1996). Evaluation of antimicrobial
properties of fruit extracts of Terminalia
chebula against dental caries pathogens.
Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra
University, Kurukshetra-136119, Haryana,
India. Retrieved from: file:///E:/Joshi105-11.pdf
[3] Monte (2014) News Medical Life Sciences in
Staphylococcus aureus Treatment. Retrieved
from: http://www.news-
medical.net/health/Staphylococcus-Aureus-
Treatment.aspx
[4] Rajakaruna et al. (2002) National Conference
on Plant Metabolomics (Phytodrugs – 2002),
Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences National Conference on Plant
Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite Research Journal SHS Edition| Volume I, No. I | November 2019
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Metabolomics in Formulation of Herbal Bath [7] Manner et al. (2013) Antimicrobial Activities
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