Antibacterial activity of water spinach herbs against acne-inducing bacteria

Abstract

Acnes is commonly caused by infection by Propionibacterium acnes when the sebum is overproduced from the body. Based on previous research, water spinach extract had antimicrobial activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic  Forsk.) herbs extract against bacteria Propionibacterium acnes. Extraction was carried out by the reflux method using three different polarity solvents. The extracts were evaporated using a rotary evaporator. Antibacterial activities were assessed by using disc diffusion, microdilution, and equality to reference antibiotics. All three extracts of water spinach herbs had better antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. The ethanol-water spinach herbs extract had the best antibacterial activity against P. acnes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of ethanol-water spinach herbs extract on P. acnes was 1280 µg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value was > 5120 µg/ml. The equivalency of ethanol-water spinach herbs extract to tetracycline hydrochloride presented 1163.87 µg ethanol extract (with density 1% extract: 0.780) equal to 1 µg tetracycline hydrochloride. All three extracts of water spinach herbs had antibacterial activity against P. acnes. The ethanol extract had the best antibacterial activity against P. acnes among all three extracts.