Antibacterial activities of Etlingera flexuosa AD Poulsen (Zingiberaceae) from Central Sulawesi on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Abstract

E. flexuosa which is endemic from Sulawesi is widely used by the local people for a lot of cultural activities. E. flexuosa fruit become the essential source to enhance the taste of fish dishes. The rhizome becomes a remedy to treat diarrhoea. This research aims to identify the antibacterial properties of E. flexuosa rhizome extract to two pathogen bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. E.flexuosa sample were collected from Lore Lindu National Park, Indonesia. To detect the antibacterial activity, agar well diffusion was performed. The result showed that the extract of E. flexuose rhizome has antibacterial properties to inhibit the grow of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherchia coli because of the secondary metabolites, such as flavonoid, tannin, saponin, terpenoid and alkaloid