The Antibacterial Effect of Red Dragon Fruit Peel Extract (Hylocereus Polyrhizus) Against The Growth of Bacterium Enterococcus Faecalis

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis is the main cause of periradicular infections after root canal treatment. It is currently being encouraged by using natural ingredients as an alternative tooth root canal irrigation substance, one of which is the peel of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) containing flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. To identify the antibacterial effects of the peel of red dragon fruit extract (Hylocereus polyrhizus) on the growth of the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis. This experimental laboratory research in vitro using the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 2921. The method used was ditch-diffusion on Mueller Hinton media to continue measuring a radical zone using a sliding caliper. The peel of red dragon fruit extract (Hylocereus polyrhizus) consists of several concentrations: 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% based on V1N1 = V2N2. Datas were tested statistically using the One way-Anova test, starting with a normality test using the Shapiro-Wilk test, then a homogenity test, and continued with a post hoc test using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) to identify whether the results showed a significant difference in the antibacterial power of dragon fruit peel extract against Enterococcus faecalis.: All tested concentrations were antibacterial against Enterococcus faecalis bacteria growth. The highest concentration of antibacterial against was 100% (p <0.05). Peel of red dragon fruit extract (Hylocereus polyrhizus) had an antibacterial effect on the growth of Enterococcus faecalis bacteria