Screening of antimicrobial activity of water, flesh and leaves of Cocos nucifera (coconut tree) / Syazana Che Baharom

The aim of this study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts from coconutplant (Cocos nucifera) specifically from leaves, flesh and coconut water. Chosen of coconut tree is because it usually use as medicine example as medicine for asthma, fever, bloody diarrhea and many else. Cocos nucifera extracts have been recently reported to be effective in biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, immune function, anticarcinogenic, antidiarrheal and many else. These activities are depending on the part of the plant. Plant extracts will be prepared by two types of extraction methods; water and solvent extraction. Antimicrobial activity will be measured by serial dilution method and disk diffusion assay. Antimicrobial activity of these extracts will be tested using microorganisms such Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes. The result showed that diethyl ether extract of leaves gave the largest inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus. In all tested parts of the Cocos nucifera have antimicrobial activity against microorganisms tested except Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. However the concentrations and part coconut plant of the extracts play an important role in determine the effectiveness of this inhibitory activity.