Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Plectranthus amboinicus Against Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria urges the production of more effective, safe, and competent drugs or antibiotics for therapeutic medicine. Today, most researchers are interested in the natural antimicrobial activities driven by plant sources as an alternative treatment. Plectranthus amboinicus belongs to the family Lamiaceae. It is a succulent plant that climbs, has toothed margins with heart-shaped leaves, is scented, and possesses short delicate erect hairs. The compounds that are found in Plectranthus amboinicus from the extraction process have beneficial antimicrobial properties that can fight against pathogens. This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract from Plectranthus amboinicus against six different bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ATCC 43300), Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).