PHYSICAL EVALUATION, PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF MORUS NIGRA SEEDS

Objective: The present study investigates physical evaluation, proximate analysis, nutritive value and antimicrobial activity of Morus nigra seeds. Methods: Physical evaluation proximate analysis and phytochemical screening of Morus nigra seeds was performed by standard protocols. Antibacterial and antifungal activity was performed by agar well diffusion method. Results: Physical evaluation of seeds revealed the presence of 5.553 % total ash, other ash values lies within permissible limit range. Alcohol soluble and water soluble extractive values were found to be 6.561 and 5.587 % respectively. Seeds of Morus nigra contain moisture (5.356%), total nitrogen (2.886%), crude protein (18.039%), crude fat (2.907%), crude fiber (5.662%), total carbohydrate (68.145%) and available carbohydrates (62.483%). The nutritive value for seeds was calculated to be 370.899 Kcal/100 gm. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of a number of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenolics and flavonoids. Antibacterial activity of seeds was evaluated against four bacterial strains. Antifungal activity was performed against two fungal strains. Ethyl acetate extract demonstrated prominent activity against all microbes. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the presence of an appreciable content of fat, carbohydrate and protein which may fulfill the nutritional demand of society. Seeds of Morus nigra could also be a source of novel phytoconstituents or antimicrobial agent of herbal origin.