Antibacterial Potential of Keben Fruit Seed Extract (Barringtonia asiatica L. Kurz) Against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy against both bacteria is declining due to increased antimicrobial resistance. Keben is a tree-shaped plant that is easily found on the coasts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Keben fruit seeds are traditionally used to treat infections. Aims: This study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of keben fruit seed extract and fraction (Barringtonia asiatica L. Kurz) against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Methodology: The method used in this study is the disc diffusion method against selected bacterial strains, with antibacterial effectiveness determined based on the diameter of the inhibition zones formed after incubation. Antibacterial activity is observed based on the measurement of the diameter of the barrier area or the clear area formed around the disc paper. The test was carried out 3 times. The analysis begin with testing for normality and homogeneity, then continued using One Way Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) analysis with a 95% confidence level (p ≤ 0.05). The ANOVA data obtained showed that the concentrations of the treatments studied were significantly different, so the analysis was continued with the Tukey test to compare the inhibitory strength of each treatment concentration. Results: The largest inhibition zone in the extract was found at a concentration of 1000 ppm for Staphylococcus aureus 12.15 mm and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 10.44 mm. The extract is known to exhibit greater resistance to Staphylococcus aureus than to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This difference in response is certainly due to the difference in the cell wall structure of the two bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria do not have a lipopolysaccharide layer on their cell wall, whereas in gram-negative bacteria, the cell wall is lined by a lipopolysaccharide layer. Conclusion: This study conclude that the active compounds in keben fruit seed extract have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.