Effectiveness test of African leaf ethanol extract against Salmonella typhi bacteria

Salmonella typhi is a gram-negative bacterium that is a pathogen that causes dangerous infectious diseases. The bacteria resist almost all antibiotics, such as penicillin, chloramphenicol, and methicillin. The problem of resistance has become a global problem, so new antibacterial materials are needed that can inhibit the growth of Salmonella typhi. One of the plants originating from the continent of Africa is used as a medicine to treat diarrhea, diabetes, and malaria. Where to previous studies, African leaves contain flavonoids and tannins, which can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. This study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of African leaf extract on the growth of Salmonella typhi. This research is an experimental study with various treatments using African leaf extract concentrations of 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. Antibacterial activity test based on the presence of inhibition zones formed. The results showed differences in the inhibition zone between extract concentration treatments on the growth of Salmonella typhi bacteria. At a concentration of 100, the formation of an inhibition zone with the largest diameter of 73.9% could be seen, and at a concentration of 20%, only an inhibition zone with a diameter of 23.7%. The antibacterial activity of African leaves can inhibit the growth of Salmonella typhi bacteria because an inhibition zone is formed.