Antibacterial Activity Tests of N-Hexane, Ethyl Acetate and Methanol Extracts of Breadfruit Leaves on escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Traditional medicine has been widely used by the
community as alternative medicine in treating a disease.
Traditional medicine is more easily accepted by
the community due to its familiarity, cheaper price,
and easier to obtain. One of the medicinal plants that
have potential is Artocarpus altilis [Parkins.] Fosberg
or widely known as breadfruit. Breadfruit leaves are
effective to treat diseases such as liver, hepatitis,
enlarged spleen, heart, kidneys, and high blood pressure.
They can also be utilized as ingredients for skin healing
medicines. Young breadfruit leaves can be chewed to
neutralize the toxic content in food. Based on previous
studies, the ethanol extract of breadfruit leaves was
proven to inhibit the growth of gram-negative bacteria
Escherichia coli. Most Escherichia coli are harmless,
but some types of Escherichia coli can cause serious
food poisoning. The results of phytochemical screening
showed that the breadfruit leaves contained flavonoids,
tannins, polyphenols, saponins, steroids/terpenoids, monoterpenes,
and sesquiterpenoids. This current study
aims to determine the activity of antibacterial inhibition
by graded extraction of breadfruit leaves using non-polar
solvent n-hexane, semi-polar solvent ethyl acetate, and
polar solvent methanol by the maceration method. Then,
the obtained extract was tested for antibacterial activity
with gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive
Staphylococcus aureus using the agar diffusion method.