Bacterial Effect of Ipil-ipil (Leucaenaleucocephala) Leaf Extract against Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the composition of the ipil-ipil (leucaenaleucocephala) leaves that have antibacterial property based phytochemical analysis. It also aimed to study the bactericidal effect of ipil-ipil leaf extract and the control antibiotic, amoxicillin, against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, this study was conducted to find out the best concentration to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus against the control group. The study made use of the experimental, quantitative research design. The experiment utilized the decoction method of extraction to obtain the extracts. The study was conducted at the laboratory of the college of veterinary medicine, Benguet state university from October 21-25, 2013. The researchers used the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) also called the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) as their statistical tools. Five (5) treatments were used, including the control, amoxicillin. There were four (4) concentrations of ipil-ipil leaf extract used. Treatment 1 comprised of 100% ipil-ipil leaf extract and 0%distilled water, Treatment 2 composed 75% ipil-ipil leaf extract with 25% distilled water and Treatment 3, 50% ipil-ipil leaf extract mixed with 50% distilled water, and treatment 4,25% of ipil-ipil leaf extract combined with 75%distilled water. Each treatment had five (5) replicates. The study made of amoxicillin which was dissolved in 15ml distilled water as the control treatment. The zone of inhibition of the bacteria was measured using a Vernier caliper. In the study, the bioactive compounds terpenes, phytosterols, phenolics, and flavonoids have been found to be the constituents of ipil-ipil leaves that have antibacterial properties. It was proven the different treatments of ipil-ipil leaf extracts can inhibit the growth of the staphylococcus aureus. Also, it was concluded that the best experimental treatments—treatments 1 and 2, with 100% and 75% of ipil-ipil leaf extract concentrations respectively, were effective in inhibiting the growth of the bacteria staphylococcus aureus though not as effective compared to the positive control amoxicillin. From the data gathered, analysed and interpreted, the following recommendation was identified: that conduct of studies utilizing the confirmed antibacterial constituents of the ipil-ipil leaves like the terpenes, phytosterols, phenolics, and flavonoids be done; that the future studies to test the potentials of the stem and roots of ipil-ipil in the growth of staphylococcus aureus be conducted; that further researches on the effectivity of ipil-ipil extract on the other bacteria be performed: and comparative studies be done on the plant’s efficiency between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, the researchers to use other methods of extraction like ethanol and crude methods to determine the best way of extracting active antibacterial components of ipil-ipil and but not the least, for them to conduct similar studies to validate the above findings.