Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Cordyline fruticosa Leaf Infusion and Ethanol Extract Against Shigella dysentriae and Candida albicans

Abstract

Cordyline fruticosa, also known to Indonesians as andong, is one of the simplest plants to grow. This plant is commonly used as an ornamental plant in yards, gardens, cemeteries, as well as a road barrier. Although it is primarily grown for ornamental purposes, the leaves of this plant empirically have been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The goal of this study was to determine what chemicals are present in andong leaves, as well as to see if an extract derived from the leaves has any activity against microbes that cause diarrhea, such as Shigella dysenteriae and Candida albicans. Andong leaves were extracted using two different methods, namely maceration with 96% ethanol as a solvent and infusion with distilled water heated to 90 °C. Phytochemicals screening test was conducted qualitatively using the color-change reaction method. While antimicrobial activity test was performed using the disk diffusion method and continued with the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test using the solid dilution method. Phytochemicals screening revealed that the ethanol extract and infusion of andong leaves contained flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phenols. The antimicrobial activity results showed that the ethanol extract and infusion of andong leaves inhibited the growth of S. dysenteriae but had no effect on C. albicans. These findings suggest that andong leaves have the potential to treat diarrhea caused by S. dysentriae, but not by C. albicans.