Pengaruh Pemberian Larutan Ekstrak Siwak (Salvadora Persica) Pada Berbagai Konsentrasi Terhadap Pertumbuhan Candida Albicans

Effect of various concentrations of miswak (Salvadora persica) extract solutionon the growth of Candida albicansBackground : Approximately 85-95% of oral candidal infection is caused byCandida albicans. The use of miswak (Salvadora Persica) has been known sincemany centuries ago as a purifier of the mouth. Miswak extract solution containschemicals components which have antibacterial and antifungal activities.Objective : This study aims to determine the effect of miswak extract solution atvarious levels of concentration on the growth of C. albicans and to determine theMinimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).Methods : This study is a quasi-experimental using Post Test Only Control GroupDesign which used C. albicans colonies taken from Microbiology LaboratoryFaculty of Medicine of Diponegoro University Semarang as samples. There areseven groups studied; one control group and six sample groups. The interventionswere given by giving the miswak extract solution at various concentrations to thesample groups. The miswak concentrations used were 3.1%, 6.2%, 12.5%, 25%,50%, and 100%. The data was obtained by visually observing the growth of C.albicans colonies in each miswak extract concentration of the sample groups.Statistical tests used the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney test.Results : The growth of C. albicans colonies in the sample groups which werebeing given miswak extract solution with concentrations of 3.1%, 6.2%, 12.5%,and 25% still appeared, although not as much if compared to the control group.There were no visible growth of C. albicans colonies shown in the sample groupswhich were being given miswak extract solution with concentrations of 50% and100%. Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference (p=0.009), followedby Mann-Whitney test which also showed a significant difference (p=0.025).Conclusions : Miswak extract solution at various concentrations can inhibit thegrowth of C. albicans. Miswak extract solution at concentrations of 50% and100% with ethanol as the solvent have been proven effective to inhibit the growthC. albicans colonies. Miswak extract solution with a concentration of 50% is asolution with the most effective concentration to inhibit the growth of C. albicans