Screening for antibacterial properties of three medicinal plants against Salmonella sp. isolates obtained from broiler carcass in Indonesia

Abstract

Antibacterial properties of three medicinal plants used widely amongst the native Indonesians, i.e., sirih (Piper betel), garlic (Allium sativum) and jinten hitam (Nigella sativa) were screened and evaluated against Salmonella sp. isolates. For this purpose, the three plants' powder, aqueous and ethanol extracts were prepared. The tests' results demonstrated the three plants' anti Salmonella sp. activities. In this conjunction, the aqueous extract of Allium sativum, the ethanol extracts of Nigella sativa, and Piper betel, consecutively produced 17 mm, 15 mm and 13 mm diameter of bacterial growth inhibition zones. As a comparison, sensitivity tests of three commercial antibiotics, i.e., chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and gentamycin on Salmonella sp. isolates produced 19.7-27.3 mm growth inhibition zones. Garlic having antimicrobial potential was comparable to the commercial antibiotics, can be used as a decontaminant against Salmonella sp. to maintain the quality of the broiler carcasses and therefore prolonging the carcass shelf-life.