Antibacterial Activity of Lidah Mertua (Sansevieria Trifasciata Prain.) Leaves Extract on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: Infection is the most common diseases in developing country, including Indonesia. Bacteria that often causes infection is Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. One of the traditional plants that can be used as an antibacterial is lidah mertua. AIM: The purpose of this study was to find out the profile of chemical compounds by thin layer chromatography method and determine the antibacterial activity of Lidah Mertua leaves by in vitro. METHODS: This research conducted an experimentally using non-polar, semipolar, and polar as solvents to get extract against E. coli and S. aureus as bacterial testing. The antibacterial activity using agar diffusion method to get minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). RESULTS: The result of the research on thin layer chromatography showed that the compounds contained in the Lidah Mertua leaves were polifenol, steroids and alkaloids. The data obtained were tabulated and analysed descriptively. The antibacterial activity show that n-hexane extract does not provide inhibitory activity. MIC value show that aethyl acetate extract of lidah mertua leaves inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus at concentration 50 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL with diameters of inhibition zone is 8.50 mm and 8.20 mm and methanol extract of lidah mertua leaves inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus at concentration 12.5 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL with diameters of inhibition zone is 8.46 mm and 8.32 mm. CONCLUSION: The profile of chemical compounds by thin layer chromatography method showed that the compounds contained in the Lidah Mertua leaves were polifenol, steroids and alkaloids. The antibacterial activity show that n-hexane extract does not provide inhibitory activity, but aethyl acetate extract of lidah mertua leaves inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus.