UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI EKSTRAK BUAH SENGGANI TERHADAP ZONA HAMBAT BAKTERI PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Background: Infections caused by the opportunistic pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa present a serious global health issue due to high levels of resistance against various conventional antibiotics. Senggani fruit is known to be rich in secondary metabolites that hold potential as bio-active agents for inhibiting microbial growth. Objective: To elucidate the antibacterial potential of Senggani fruit (Melastoma malabathricum L.) extract against the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: The study utilized the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with six replications. Senggani fruit extracts at concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% were obtained through ethanol maceration. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) served as the negative control, while a conventional antibiotic was used as the positive control. Inter-group comparative data were statistically analyzed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of phytochemical compounds in the Senggani fruit extract. The highest inhibition zone diameter was achieved by the 80% concentration at 9.30 mm. The Mann-Whitney test indicated a statistically significant difference in inhibition zone diameters among treatment groups, with a p-value of 0.002 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Senggani fruit (Melastoma malabathricum L.) extract is proven to exhibit antibacterial activity that inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.