Antibacterial Activity of Methanol Extract from Gelam (Melaleuca leucadendra) Leaves Against Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors
Yeni Mariani , Fathul YusroDOI:
10.29303/jbt.v25i3.9508Published:
2025-07-14Issue:
Vol. 25 No. 3 (2025): Juli-SeptemberKeywords:
Antibacterial, Escherichia coli, gelam, leaves, Staphylococcus aureus.Articles
Downloads
How to Cite
Downloads
Metrics
Abstract
Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria causing contagious diseases. Both bacteria have shown high levels of antibiotic resistance, making them essential targets in searching for new antibacterial agents from natural sources such as medicinal plants. Gelam (Melaleuca leucadendra) is a promising medicinal plant to be a new antibacterial agent. This research aims to analyze the biological activity of the methanol extract of Gelam leaves (M. leucadendra) in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The Gelam leaf extract was prepared by maceration process in 96% methanol solution (1:7 ratio). The antibacterial assay was conducted using the disc diffusion method on MHA (Muller-Hinton Agar) media. Four levels of methanol leaf extract concentration were used: 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/ml. Methanol 96% was used as negative control and amoxicillin as positive control. The highest inhibition in both bacteria tested, 1.67 mm on E. coli bacteria and 6.26 mm on S. aureus bacteria.
References
Abdallah, E. M., Alhatlani, B. Y., de Paula Menezes, R., & Martins, C. H. G. (2023). Back to Nature: Medicinal Plants as Promising Sources for Antibacterial Drugs in the Post-Antibiotic Era. Plants, 12(12), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173077
Abubakar, A. R., & Haque, M. (2020). Preparation of medicinal plants: Basic extraction and fractionation procedures for experimental purposes. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 12(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_175_19
Åhman, J., Matuschek, E., & Kahlmeter, G. (2022). Evaluation of ten brands of pre-poured Mueller-Hinton agar plates for EUCAST disc diffusion testing. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 28(11), 1499.e1-1499.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2022.05.030
Alanazi, H. H., Elasbali, A. M., Alanazi, M. K., & El Azab, E. F. (2023). Medicinal Herbs: Promising Immunomodulators for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases. Molecules, 28(28), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248045
Anggryani, D., Kurniawan, E., Sukmana, D. J., & Ustiawaty, J. (2023). Identification of Escherichia coli Sub Type Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) from Food Samples Using Pcr (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Technique. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 23(4), 404–409. https://doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v23i4.5540
Attamimi, M. A. B., Retnowati, W., Maimunah, U., Koendhori, E. B., & Kurniati, N. D. (2025). In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Eco Enzyme of Eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) against Escherichia coli. Majalah Biomorfologi, 35(1), 40–47. https://doi.org/10.20473/mbiom.v35i1.2025.40-47
Bahadur, R., Chodisetti, P. K., & Reddy, M. (2021). Cleavage of Braun’s lipoprotein Lpp from the bacterial peptidoglycan by a paralog of L,D-transpeptidases, LdtF. PNAS, 118(9), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101989118
Baranova, A. A., Alferova, V. A., Korshun, V. A., & Tyurin, A. P. (2023). Modern Trends in Natural Antibiotic Discovery. Life, 13(5), 2–29. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051073
Bitwell, C., Indra, S. Sen, Luke, C., & Kakoma, M. K. (2023). A review of modern and conventional extraction techniques and their applications for extracting phytochemicals from plants. Scientific African, 19, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01585
Breijyeh, Z., Jubeh, B., & Karaman, R. (2020). Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to current antibacterial agents and approaches to resolve it. Molecules, 25(6), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25061340
Dawan, J., & Ahn, J. (2020). Assessment of β-Lactamase Inhibitor Potential of Medicinal Plant Extracts against Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Korean J. Plant Res, 33(6). https://doi.org/10.7732/kjpr.2020.33.6.578
Geraldino, B. R., Lauren Lorenzo, F. H., Rumeven Empinado, N. R., Almonguera, J. E., Lumayno, A. A., & Ederio, N. T. (2024). International Journal of Current Science Research and Review Antioxidant Properties and Antibacterial Activity of Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) Bark and Leaf Extract against Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 7(5), 3165–3173. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/V7-i5-77
Ghodake, V., Hinge, S., Beedkar, A., Banpurkar, A., & Kulkarni, G. (2025). Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Response to Sinusoidal Mechanical Vibrations. The Microbe, 6, 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2024.100218
Hayati, A. R., Singkam, A. R., & Jumiarni, D. (2022). Uji Antibakteri Ekstrak Etanol Daun Theobroma cacao L. terhadap Pertumbuhan Escherichia coli dengan Metode Difusi Cakram. BIOEDUSAINS:Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Dan Sains, 5(1), 31–40. https://doi.org/10.31539/bioedusains.v5i1.3160
Hilmi, B., Bustami, Y., Trongsatitkul, T., & Abdul Hamid, Z. A. (2019). The effect of natural antimicrobial agents on staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli growth. Journal of Physical Science, 30(2), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.21315/JPS2019.30.S2.5
Jubeh, B., Breijyeh, Z., & Karaman, R. (2020). Resistance of gram-positive bacteria to current antibacterial agents and overcoming approaches. Molecules, 25(12), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25122888
Khairullah, A. R., Kurniawan, S. C., Sudjarwo, S. A., Effendi, M. H., Afnani, D. A., Silaen, O. S. M., Putra, G. D. S., Riwu, K. H. P., Widodo, A., & Ramandinianto, S. C. (2023). Detection of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci in cow milk and hands of farmers in East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 24(1), 658–664. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d240174
Kristiawan, V., Mahatmi, H., Sudipa, P. H., & Rahmadani, D. (2022). Bakteri Escherichia coli Teridentifikasi pada Rektum Lumba-Lumba Hidung Botol Indo-Pasifik di Umah Lumba Rehabilitation Center, Taman Nasional Bali Barat. Indonesia Medicus Veterinus, 11(2), 234–245. https://doi.org/10.19087/imv.2022.11.2.234
Liu, J., Lai, X., Li, Y., Yu, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, C., & Peng, Q. (2024). Reversing the Natural Drug Resistance of Gram-Negative Bacteria to Fusidic Acid via Forming Drug–Phospholipid Complex. Bioengineering, 11, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering
Mariani, Y., Yusro, F., & Wardenaar, E. (2020). Aktivitas Ekstrak Metanol Daun Ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri Tisjm & Binn) Terhadap Empat Jenis Bakteri Patogen. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 20(1), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v20i1.1642
Martínez-Fructuoso, L., Arends, S. J. R., Freire, V. F., Evans, J. R., Devries, S., Peyser, B. D., Akee, R. K., Thornburg, C. C., Kumar, R., Ensel, S., Morgan, G. M., McConachie, G. D., Veeder, N., Duncan, L. R., Grkovic, T., & O’Keefe, B. R. (2023). Screen for New Antimicrobial Natural Products from the NCI Program for Natural Product Discovery Prefractionated Extract Library. ACS Infectious Diseases, 9(6), 1245–1256. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00067
Monzote, L., Scherbakov, A. M., Scull, R., Satyal, P., Cos, P., Shchekotikhin, A. E., Gille, L., & Setzer, W. N. (2020). Essential oil from melaleuca leucadendra: Antimicrobial, antikinetoplastid, antiproliferative and cytotoxic assessment. Molecules, 25(23), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235514
Nababan, F., Panjaitan, I. M. S., & Ricky, D. R. (2025). Antibacterial Effectiveness Test of Roselle Flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Ethanol Extract Against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Propionibacterium acnes Bacteria. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 25(1), 1074–1083. https://doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v25i1.8765
Naidoo, N., & Zishiri, O. T. (2025). Presence, Pathogenicity, Antibiotic Resistance, and Virulence Factors of Escherichia coli: A Review. Bacteria, 4(16), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/bacteria4010016
Pardede, D. T., Juliansyah, R., & Fauziah, R. (2024). Uji Aktivitas Antibakteri Ekstrak Metanol Daun Maja ( Aegle marmelos L.) Terhadap Bakteri Streptococcus Mutans dan Escherichia Coli. Jurnal Pharmacia Mandala Waluya, 3(6), 344–351. https://doi.org/10.54883/jpmw.v3i6.148
Putra, M. F. R., Bahar, E., Gustia, R., Linosefa, & Julizar, R. (2024). Pola Bakteri dan Sensitivitas Antibiotik Pada Hasil Kultur Pasien di Ruangan Intensive Care Unit RSUP Dr. M. Djamil Padang Tahun 2020. Sentri: Jurnal Riset Ilmiah, 3(10), 4737–4748. https://ejournal.nusantaraglobal.or.id/index.php/sentri/article/view/3469/3405
Roney, M., Singh, G., Dubey, A., Soni, H., Tandon, S., Narasimhaji, C. V., Tufail, A., Akm, M. H., & Aluwi, M. F. F. M. (2023). Polypharmacological assessment of Amoxicillin and its analogues against the bacterial DNA gyrase B using molecular docking, DFT and molecular dynamics simulation. Aspects of Molecular Medicine, 2, 1–0. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amolm.2023.100024
Sousa, L. R. D., Santos, M. L. da C., Sampaio, L. S., Faustino, C. G., Guigueno, M. L. L., Freitas, K. M., Lopes, M. T. P., Mota, G. C. F., dos Santos, V. M. R., Seibert, J. B., Amparo, T. R., Vieira, P. M. de A., Santos, O. D. H. dos, & de Souza, G. H. B. (2024). Nanoemulsified Essential Oil of Melaleuca leucadendron Leaves for Topical Application: In Vitro Photoprotective, Antioxidant and Anti-Melanoma Activities. Pharmaceuticals, 17(6), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060721
Sudiansyah, M. I., Yusro, F., & Mariani, Y. (2023). Aktivitas Antibakteri Ekstrak Kulit Batang Gelam (Melaleuca leucadendra Linn.) terhadap Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. VIII(3). https://doi.org/10.32672/jse.v8i3.6104
Sukarya, I. B. J., Pratiwi, I. D. P. K., & Puspawati, N. N. (2021). Ketahanan Isolat Bakteri Asam Laktat Indigenus KOmbucha dan Dadih Terhadap Antiobiotik. Itepa: Jurnal Ilmu Dan Teknologi Pangan, 10(4), 2021–2734. https://doi.org/10.24843/itepa.2021.v10.i04.p18
Suyasa, I. B. O., & Mastra, N. (2020). Gambaran Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Pada Petugas Kesehatan RSUD Wangaya Kota Denpasar. Meditory, 8(1), 2338–1159. https://doi.org/10.33992/m.v8i1.1074
Turki Monawer, A., & Mammani, I. M. A. (2023). Antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Plantago major leaves against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from burn infections. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 17(2), 276–280. https://doi.org/10.3855/JIDC.17576
Vaou, N., Stavropoulou, E., Voidarou, C., Tsigalou, C., & Bezirtzoglou, E. (2021). Towards advances in medicinal plant antimicrobial activity: A review study on challenges and future perspectives. Microorganisms, 9(9), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102041
Wang, L. J., Yang, X., Qian, S. Y., Liu, Y. C., Yao, K. H., Dong, F., & Song, W. Q. (2020). Identification of hemolytic activity and hemolytic genes of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Chinese children. Chinese Medical Journal, 133(1), 88–90. https://doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000000571
Zhang, Y., Zhang, H., Xu, T., Zeng, L., Liu, F., Huang, X., & Liu, Q. (2024). Interactions Among Microorganisms Open up a New World for Anti-Infectious Therapy. FEBS Journal, 291(8), 1615–1631. https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.16705
Zouine, N., Ghachtouli, N. El, Abed, S. El, & Koraichi, S. I. (2024). A comprehensive Review on Medicinal Plant Extracts as Antibacterial Agents: Factors, Mechanism Insights and Future Prospects. Scientific African, 26, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02395
Author Biography
Yeni Mariani, Fakultas Kehutanan Universitas Tanjungpura
Kehutanan
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Yeni Mariani, Fathul Yusro

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.