Antibacterial property of ethanolic leaf extracts from Ficus septica (Hauili fig tree) and Acalypha amentacea (Balingud) along Wawa Dam, Rodriguez, Rizal against selected multidrug resistant bacteria

Ficus septica and Acalypha amentacea are amongst the diverse wildlife found along Wawa Dam, Rizal. Despite studies showing little to no avail about their medicinal properties, this study was pursued to determine its antimicrobial activity against selected multidrug resistant bacteria, namely, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESβL) Escherichia coli, and metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MβLPA), provided by the Microbiology Department of De La Salle University Manila. Ethanolic extracts of F. septica and A. amentacea leaves were made into different concentrations (230 μg/mL, 115 μg/mL, 57.5 μg/mL and 27.5μg/mL) using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent. This was later subjected to assay by paper disc diffusion and spot testing against the test organisms. Results using paper disc diffusion showed that F. septica ethanolic leaf extracts inhibited the growth of MRSA with a zone of inhibition of 11±1mm for 230μg/mL, 10±1mm for 115μg/mL, 9±1mm for 57.5μg/mL and 8±1mm for 28.75μg/mL. Spot test verified the inhibition of the said bacteria with 10±1mm for 230μg/mL, 8±0.6mm for 115μg/mL, 8±1.5mm for 57.5μg/mL and 6±1mm for 27.5μg/mL. Acalypha amentacea, on the other hand, also inhibited the growth of MRSA using disc diffusion method. Zones of 15±1.2mm for 230μg/mL, 12±1.5mm for 115μg/mL, 9±1mm for 57.5μg/mL and 9±0.6mm for 28.75μg/mL were observed. Confirmatory results from spot test showed similarities by inhibiting the growth of MRSA. The ethanolic leaf extracts of both plants have antagonistic effects against the MRSA but not on ESβL E. coli and MβLPA. Since the plants have antimicrobial properties, this study can have future significance when further researched on