Screening of Antifungal Activity of Etlingera littoralis Stem Extract

• Main Author: Ching Yok, Kuan
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2018
• Subjects: Q Science (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35017/1/Ching%20Yok%20Kuan%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35017/

The search of antimicrobial agents from natural resources continue due to the rise of resistance of pathogenic microorganism, as well as the side effects that may occur from using synthetic compound as treatment. Etlingera littoralis is a medicinal plants used in the treatment of stomach ache, and as carminative and heart tonic. This research was carried out to investigate the antifungal properties of E. littoralis stem by using aqueous and ethanol extraction against Aspergillus Jlavus, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium solani by using poisoned food technique. Four concentrations which were 100 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL were prepared from both extracts. Next, the edge of a young culture of fungus was cut and turned upside down placed in the center of the treatment plate. After 5 days, the diameter of the fungal growth was measured and the percentage of inhibition was calculated. This research shown that different concentration of aqueous extract and ethanol extract possesses different percentage inhibition against the tested fungi. The most effective aqueous extract to determine the antifungal activity of E. littoralis obtained the highest percentage inhibition of 66.67% against A. flavus and the most effective ethanol extract to determine the antifungal activity of E. littoralis obtained the highest percentage inhibition of 66.28% against F. solani. However, both aqueous and ethanol extracts did not showed significant differences against A. niger. Hence, this research was successfully in providing the preliminary information that could assist the discovery of new bioactive compound from E. littoralis.