A preliminary investigation on the antimicrobial activity of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (Patola) leaf extract

Abstract

Four concentrations were prepared (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) from the Patola (<i>Luffa cylindrical</i>) leaf extract. Positive and negative controls were made in order to have a basis for comparison with the other four Patola leaf extract concentrations. Negative controls were purely sterilized distilled water, while the positive controls used were Amoxicillin for bacteria and Mycostatin for <i>Candida albicans</i>. The effectiviness of these concentrations was tested on the growth of the five selected microorganisms, namely: <i>Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus, C. albicans</i> and <i>Microsporum canis. M. canis</i> did not exhibit any growth and had no significant difference. Patola was found to inhibit the growth of <i>S. aureus, S. epidermidis</i> and <i>S. saprophyticus</i> at 100% concentration. Patola leaf concentration of 75% weakly inhibited the growth of <i>S. epidermidis</i> and <i>S. aureus</i>. Concentrations of 50%, and 25% showed negative inhibitory activity. Candida albicans in all four concentrations showed negative inhibitory activities. The minimum inhibitory activity that was able to inhibit bacterial growth was at 75% leaf extract concentration.