In Vitro Antimicrobial Potential of Impatiens Balsamina Flower Against Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli and Candida Albicans

Abstract

The search for new drugs to treat cases of infection continues. This is because the microorganisms that cause infection continue to mutate as a form of self-defense which causes resistance to antibiotics. One strategy for finding new drugs is through the exploration of active ingredients derived from plants that have been used empirically by the community. Impatiens balsamina is a plant that has been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, antipruritic, and anti-allergic characteristics. The ethanol extract of the Impatiens balsamina flower contains secondary metabolites such as naphthoquinones, coumarin derivatives, flavonoids, steroids, quinones, and saponins. This study aimed to obtain the active ingredient of the Impatiens balsamina flower which is used as an herbal medicine in the treatment of infection. A multilevel extraction process was carried out using solvents of different polarity, so that fractions containing nonpolar compounds, semipolar compounds, and polar compounds were obtained. Then, each fraction was tested for antimicrobial potency. Antimicrobial testing in vitro was carried out using the disc diffusion method. The results showed that the secondary metabolites contained in the hexane fraction were terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and anthraquinone compounds. Secondary metabolites contained in the ethyl acetate fraction were alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and anthraquinone compounds. Secondary metabolites contained in the ethanol fraction were terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and anthraquinone compounds. The hexane fraction had the best percentage of inhibition and percentage of effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans.