MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON EXTRACTS OF CUCURBITA-MAXIMA

Extracts from the fruits, leaves and flowers of Cucurbita maxima Dusch ne were subjected to preliminary microbiological and pharmacological s tudies. The undiluted ethanol extracts of squash fruits exhibited comp lete inhibition against B. subtilis and only partial inhibition agains t E. coli. The extracts of squash Bowers and leaves showed either mini mal or an absence of antimicrobial activity against both organisms. In the pharmacological screening of the crude extracts of squash fruits and leaves, there was a decrease in motor activity, ataxia, temporary patpebral ptosis, hyperaemia, micturition acid abdominal gripping in t he test mice. The ethyl acetate extract of squash Blowers caused a dec rease in respiratory rate, analgesia, paralysis of the hindlegs, persi stent skin folds, hyperaemia, diarrhoea, and exophthalamos.