Antibacterial effects of sarang semut (Myrmecodia Pendans) fractions using three different solvents toward enterococcus faecalis CPS2

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effect of antibacterial activity from sarang semut fractions with three different solvents, i.e. nonpolar (n-hexane), semipolar (ethyl acetate), and polar (water), to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on Enterococcus faecalis cps2. Methods: The fractions were extracted with a maceration method and a methanol solvent. The fractionation was performed with three groups of solvent to obtain the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and water fractions. The active compound from the best fraction group was identified using a phytochemical test, gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry, and thin-layer chromatography. Each fraction group was divided into five different concentrations, i.e. 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% and was assessed against E. faecalis cps2 with an agar diffusion method. Chlorhexidine 2% was used as a positive control. The width of the inhibition zone was calculated. Results: The ethyl acetate group had the biggest inhibition zone of 21 mm in diameter compared to n-hexane and water, which was 15 mm and 19 mm in diameter, respectively. The MIC value of the fraction with a 20% concentration of ethyl acetate was significantly different (P < 0.05) from the n-hexane and water solvents in inhibiting the growth of E. faecalis cps2. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of sarang semut had a greater inhibitory effect on E. faecalis cps2. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the fraction increased with an increase in concentration.