Physico-chemical characterization, antimicrobial activity and toxicity analysis of Swietenia mahagoni seed oil

Abstract

Oil extracted from Swietenia mahagoni seed was studied with a view to finding out its suitability for ethnomedical uses with special focus on antimicrobial and toxic behavior. Some of its physical and chemical properties were examined and compared with those of standard oils: olive, sunflower, cotton seed, Linseed, soybean, coconut, palm and castor. The refined oil was found to show good to moderate activity against disease causing bacteria viz. Shigella dysenterial, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcuss aureus and fungal pathogens viz. Macrophomina phascolma, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata. Different extracts from Swietenia mahagoni seed showed minimal toxic effect while applied on predatory fish’s viz. Heteropneustes fossilis and Anabas testudineus.