Antibacterial activity of Kemloko fruit ethanol extract (Phyllanthus emblica L.) against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA bacteria

Abstract

Background: Indonesia is a tropical country, so the prevalence of infectious diseases caused by bacteria remains high. On the other hand, the high use of antibacterial ingredients in Indonesia causes bacterial resistance to existing antibacterial drugs. One of the herbal plants that some people widely use is Kemloko fruit. This study aimed to determine the activity of Kemloko fruit (Phyllanthus emblica L.) ethanol extract against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. Methods: Simplicia of Kemloko fruit were tested for secondary metabolites and characterization test of the simplicia. The antibacterial activity test was carried out using the diffusion method, where the disc paper was immersed in the test solution with the ratio of the test concentration. Results: The results of phytochemical screening showed that the secondary metabolite compounds of Kemloko fruit are alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides. Antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of Kemloko fruit with agar diffusion method effectively inhibits S. aureus bacteria, namely at a concentration of 80 mg/ml, the inhibition zone is 14.1 mm, and at a concentration of 100 mg/ml, MRSA bacteria obtained an inhibition zone of 14.3 mm. Conclusions: The ethanol extract inhibits the growth of S. aureus and MRSA.