Antibacterial activity of piper sarmentosum (roxb.) Aqueous extract against pathogenic bacteria

Piper sarmentosum (Roxb.), commonly known as "Kaduk" among the Malay community, is a climbing herb belonging to the Piperaceae family. Traditionally, it is eaten raw as "ulam" in Malay cuisine. In addition to its culinary use, this plant is also highly regarded for its medicinal properties and is commonly employed in various traditional remedies. In this study, the antibacterial activity of P. sarmentosum aqueous leaf extract was evaluated against several Gram-positive (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus) and Gram-negative (Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella typhimurium) pathogenic bacteria using the disc diffusion method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test was also conducted. The results indicated that the aqueous extract of P. sarmentosum, at the concentrations of 1.5 mg/disc and 2.5 mg/disc, demonstrated inhibitory activity against S. aureus, with inhibition zones ranging from 11 to 12 mm. However, no significant antibacterial activity was observed against the other tested bacteria. These findings suggest that while P. sarmentosum shows potential antibacterial effects against certain Gram-positive bacteria, its efficacy against other pathogens may be limited. Further research is warranted to optimize extraction methods and explore their effectiveness against a broader range of bacteria.