Phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of Melastoma malabathricum Linn. against diarrheagenic bacteria / Mohd Khairul Azhar Abdul Kahar

Melastoma malabathricum Linn. (Senduduk) is a small shrub with various medicinal uses. In the present study, the aims of this research are to detect the phytochemical constituents on the ethanolic leaves and flowers extracts of Melastoma malabathricum and to evaluate the antibacterial property of Melastoma malabathricum extracts against Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229) and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028). Through phytochemical screening alkaloid, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, proteins, steroids and flavonoids compounds were detected in leaves extract. Alkaloid, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides and flavonoids compounds were detected in flowers extract. While steroid and protein were not detected in the flower extract. These shows both extract have high potential as antibacterial and antidiarrheal against diarrheagenic bacteria. Antimicrobial evaluation using modified Kribybauer method showed that leaves extract is susceptible toward S. typhimurium while ethanolic flowers extract is intermediate toward E. coli. Leaves extract shows more efficiency towards against E. coli and S. typhimurium with minimum inhibition concentration at 0.001mg/ml. While ethanolic flowers extract shows intermediate against E. coli and S. typhimurium with minimum inhibition concentration at 0.01mg/ml. Therefore, both extract are shows bactericidal properties against S. typhimurium while leaves extract is shows bactericidal properties against E. coli at minimum concentration 0.1mg/ml. These results show the potential of antibacterial and antidiarrheal properties which present in both extract against E. coli and S. typhimurium. Further analysis is required to assess the efficacy of leaves and flowers extract of M. malabathricum plant when applied in medicinal treatments. Both extracts also have the potential to be commercialized in the pharmaceutical industry with appropriate concentration against E. coli and S. typhimurium.