Background and Objective: Antimicrobial resistance has created a demand for alternative therapeutic agents derived from natural products. Balikpapan ginger (Etlingera balikpapanensis A.D. Poulsen) is an underexplored species with potential medicinal value. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of its stem extract against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: The extract was obtained through maceration using 96% ethanol. Antimicrobial activity was tested using the disc diffusion method at concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 2%. The diameters of inhibition zones were measured and results were analyzed statistically to assess dose-dependent effects. Results: The extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and notable antifungal activity against C. albicans. Inhibition zones increased proportionally with extract concentration, with the highest activity observed at 2%. The antimicrobial effect is attributed to the presence of flavonoids and tannins in the extract. Conclusion: Balikpapan ginger stem extract demonstrates promising antibacterial and antifungal potential, supporting its application as a natural antimicrobial agent in health-related fields. Further studies are recommended to isolate active compounds and evaluate in vivo efficacy.
Hamzah et al. (Mon,) studied this question.