BACTERIAL INHIBITION ACTIVITY OF WATER EXTRACT OF COCONUT TREE ROOT (COCUS NUCIFERA L. VAR TYPICA)

Abstract

The health benefits of the coconut tree have been recorded in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibition activity of water extract of Cocus nucifera L. var typica root on several pathogens. The dried extract was screened for phytochemical components, and the inhibition effect on bacteria was accessed by agar diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was demonstrated by the broth dilution assay. The results showed that the extract contained phenols, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and saponin. The antibacterial property of the extract was dose-dependent with the zone inhibition diameter increasing with extract concentration. The largest zone inhibition diameter was observed at the concentration of 1000mg/ml of the extract which was 11,67 ± 0,58mm for S. aureus and 8.0 ± 1.0mm for B. cereus. MIC values were 3,9mg/ml and 15,6mg/ml for two above species, respectively. No inhibitory effect of the extract on gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) was found. In conclusion, the water extract of coconut tree root has no antibacterial activity on gram-negative but gram-positive species.