Abstract

THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY STUDY OF SENNA ALATA LEAF EXTRACT AND FRACTION TOWARDS MRSA (METHICILLINRESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS) AND ITS MODE OF ACTION

Pratiwi Wikaningtyas*and Elin Yulinah Sukandar

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of healthcare-associated MRSA infections need new approach to overcome of growing problems. Medicinal plants are promising as the most valuable resources for antibiotic development. Senna alata had shown antibacterial effect in Str. pyogenes and S. aureus. Objective: to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Senna alata extract and fraction against MRSA. Method: The antibacterial activity calculated based on Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) using Mueller Hinton broth in microdilution method and the mode of action was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Result: Phytochemical screening of dried Senna alata leaf and its extract showed the presence of flavonoid, alcaloid, saponin, quinone, tannin, and sterol. The antibacterial activity showed the MIC value of the extract against MRSA was 512 μg/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the best MIC value at 256 μg/mL. The SEM observation of MRSA treated by ethyl acetate fraction of Senna alata showed membrane shrinkage. Conclusion: Senna alata was promising to be developed as antibacterial agent especially MRSA strain, but the further in vivo research and discover the mode of its action still needed to shed light the effect.

Keywords: Senna alata, antibacterial activity, MRSA, MIC, SEM.