PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SUNGKAI (PERONEMA CANESCENS) LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic Gram-positive bacterium that can colonize the oral cavity and cause various infections such as oral abscesses, stomatitis, and post-dental procedure infections. The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance has encouraged the exploration of medicinal plants as alternative antibacterial agents. Sungkai (Peronema canescens) leaves are traditionally used by the Dayak Meratus community as herbal medicine and are known to contain bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial activity. Purpose: This study aimed to analyse the phytochemical content and antibacterial activity of sungkai leaf extract against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: This research used a true experimental design with a post-test-only control group design. Methanol extract of sungkai leaves was prepared using the maceration method. Phytochemical analysis included determination of flavonoid, alkaloid, and steroid contents using spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods. Antibacterial activity was tested using the disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton Agar against S. aureus at concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Clindamycin was used as a positive control and sterile distilled water as a negative control. Results: Phytochemical analysis showed that sungkai leaf extract contained flavonoids (85.47 mg/mL QE), steroids (26.797%), and alkaloids (18.436%). The antibacterial test showed inhibition zones that increased with extract concentration, namely 10.19 ± 0.23 mm (25%), 12.89 ± 0.43 mm (50%), 14.80 ± 0.41 mm (75%), and 17.72 ± 0.57 mm (100%). Conclusion Sungkai leaf extract contains several bioactive compounds and demonstrates antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, indicating its potential as a natural antibacterial agent.

Keywords: Antibacterial Activity, Phytochemical Analysis, Staphylococcus aureus, Sungkai Leaf Extract.