The Antibacterial Activities of Piper betle and Allium cepa Extracts Against Staphylococcus aureus
DOI:
10.29303/jppipa.v11i9.10850Published:
2025-09-25Downloads
Abstract
Indonesia rich in biodiversity, both animals and plants. This is known as ethnobotany. Local people learn to use natural herbs to meet their daily needs, and some commonly used herbs are Piper betle (betel leaf) and Allium cepa (red onion). They often use P. betle or A. cepa to cure various skin infections, one of which is furuncles. This study aimed to explore ethanol extracts of P. betle, A. cepa, and their combination against Staphylococcus aureus, the main bacterial cause of furuncles, using petri dish. The inhibition zones in petri dishes were measured using a caliper to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy. Each sample was tested with 3 replicates and kanamycin was used as positive control. The P. betle extract exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect with an inhibition zone of 17.70 ± 0.30 mm, followed by P. betle and A. cepa with ratio 1:1 produced an inhibition zone of 15.63 ± 0.58 mm. The ethanol extract of A. cepa showed the lowest inhibition zone only 14.38 ± 0.35 mm and this inhibition zone was similar to that of kanamycin as positive control.
Keywords:
Allium cepa, Antibacterial, Piper betle, StaphylococcusReferences
Alara, O. R., Abdurahman, N. H., & Ukaegbu, C. I. (2021). Extraction of phenolic compounds: A review. Current Research in Food Science, 4, 200–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2021.03.011
Amalia, F. F., Yodha, A. W. M., Sutapa, I. W., & Azis, T. (2025). Isolation of secondary metabolite compounds from the soft coral Isis sp., antimicrobial testing and molecular docking studies. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 11(7), 410-419. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v11i7.10830
Aman, B. S., Taj, M. K., Samreen, Z., Hussain, A., Taj, I., Azam, S., Ali, S. A., Khan, S., Jogezai, S., & Javed, B. (2020). Skin infection risk factors and its management. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 16(1), 117-133. Retrieved from https://www.innspub.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/JBES-V16-No1-p117-133.pdf
Anindita, R., Pamungkas, E. D., Inggraini, M., Perwitasari, M., Beandrade, M. U., Putri, I. K., Nathalia, D. D., Harahap, N. R. A., & Anggarany, A. D. (2023). Red onion (Allium ascalonicum L.) skin as an antibacterial on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Edubiotik : Jurnal Pendidikan, Biologi dan Terapan, 8(02), 70–79. https://doi.org/10.33503/ebio.v8i02.2558
Arambewela, L. S., Arawwawala, M. L. D. A., Withanage, D., & Kulathunga, S. (2010). Efficacy of betel cream on skin ailments. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.2202/1553-3840.1391
Biswas, P., Anand, U., Saha, S. C., Kant, N., Mishra, T., Masih, H., Bar, A., Pandey, D. K., Jha, N. K., Majumder, M., Das, N., Gadekar, V. S., Shekhawat, M. S., Kumar, M., Radha, Proćków, J., Lastra, J. M. P. D. L., & Dey, A. (2022). Betelvine (Piper betle L.): A comprehensive insight into its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological, biomedical and therapeutic attributes. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 26(11), 3083–3119. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.17323
Brooks, G. F., Carroll, K. C., Butel, J. S., Morse, S. A., & Meitzner, T. A. (2013). Jawetz, Melnick, & Adelberg’s medical microbiology. McGraw-Hill Medical.
Chakraborty, A. J., Uddin, T. M., Matin Zidan, B. M. R., Mitra, S., Das, R., Nainu, F., Dhama, K., Roy, A., Hossain, Md. J., Khusro, A., & Emran, T. B. (2022). Allium cepa: A treasure of bioactive phytochemicals with prospective health benefits. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4586318
Chowdhury, U., & Baruah, P. K. (2020). Betelvine (Piper betle L.): A potential source for oral care. Current Botany, 87–92. https://doi.org/10.25081/cb.2020.v11.6130
Davis, W. W., & Stout, T. R. (1971). Disc plate method of microbiological antibiotic assay. Applied Microbiology, 22(4), 659-665. https://doi.org/10.1128/am.22.4.659-665.1971
Dey, S. S., Al Bashera, M., Moulick, S. P., Ahmed, F., As Sadiq, M. Z., Yeasmin, Mst. S., Rana, G. M. M., Saha, T., Prima, M. J., & Hasan Sarkar, M. M. (2025). Comparative analysis of four different solvent extracts of Annona muricata bark based on bioactive compounds and antibacterial effectiveness. Heliyon, 11(4), e42930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42930
Eka Putri, C. N. A., Masyhudi, M., & Listiyawati, L. (2024). Testing the antibacterial activity of Black Betel leaf extract (Piper betle L. Var Nigra) on Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Enterococcus faecalis. Jurnal Impresi Indonesia, 3(7), 497–513. https://doi.org/10.58344/jii.v3i7.5269
Ervianingsih, E., Razak, A., Akbar, N. W., Suiyarti, W., & Sunarto S, S. (2025). Innovation of gel based on Kopasanda leaf extract (Chromolaena odorata) in supporting burn wound healing in rabbits. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 11(6), 534–538. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v11i6.11304
Estrada-Chávez, G. E. (2024). Boils or furunculosis. In W. Robles (Eds.), Skin Disease in Travelers (pp. 29–33). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57836-6_4
Fallo, G., Pardosi, L., & Da Cruz, A. M. (2022). Karakterisasi bakteri endofit tanaman Sirih Timor (Piper betle L.) penghasil antibakteri. Jurnal Biologi Papua, 14(2), 102–108. https://doi.org/10.31957/jbp.2366
Goc, F., Erel, E., & Sari, A. (2021). Plants used in traditional treatment for boils in Turkey. International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research, 2(1), 49-61. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ijtcmr/issue/61352/851935
Grice, E. A., & Segre, J. A. (2011). The skin microbiome. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9(4), 244–253. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2537
Guglielmi, P., Pontecorvi, V., & Rotondi, G. (2020). Natural compounds and extracts as novel antimicrobial agents. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 30(12), 949–962. https://doi.org/10.1080/13543776.2020.1853101
Haryani, T. S., Nurfajriah, M. S., Sudrajat, C., Rezaldi, F., Yudianto, T., Ginaris, R. P., & Rahmad, S. S. (2025). Potential of Hanjeli (Coix lacryma-jobi) as an antifungal Microsporum Gypseum Causes Skin Infections: Extract, Boiled Water, Kombucha, and Bath Soap. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 11(7), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v11i7.11744
Ibler, K., & Kromann, C. (2014). Recurrent furunculosis – challenges and management: A review. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 59. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S35302
Kirve, D. C. (2024). An overview of betel leaf: Green gold of India. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 13(2), 240–248. https://doi.org/10.22271/phyto.2024.v13.i2c.14886
Mehta, R., Dhruv, S., Kaushik, V., Sen, K. K., Khan, N. S., Abhishek, A., Dixit, A. K., & Tripathi, V. N. (2020). A comparative study of antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts from four indigenous plants. Bioinformation, 16(3), 267–273. https://doi.org/10.6026/97320630016267
National geographic Indonesia. (2019). Kepunahan Biodiversitas Tertinggi, Indonesia Peringkat Ke-6. Retrieved from https://nationalgeographic.grid.id/read/131833161/kepunahan-biodiversitas-tertinggi-indonesia-peringkat-ke-6
Nawaz, H., Shad, M. A., Rehman, N., Andaleeb, H., & Ullah, N. (2020). Effect of solvent polarity on extraction yield and antioxidant properties of phytochemicals from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds. Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 56, e17129. https://doi.org/10.1590/s2175-97902019000417129
Nayaka, N. M. D. M. W., Sasadara, M. M. V., Sanjaya, D. A., Yuda, P. E. S. K., Dewi, N. L. K. A. A., Cahyaningsih, E., & Hartati, R. (2021). Piper betle (L): Recent review of antibacterial and antifungal properties, safety profiles, and commercial applications. Molecules, 26(8), 2321. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082321
Neman, M. (2022). Skin infections and its causes. Journal of Contemporary Medical Eduction, 12(9). Retrieved from https://www.jcmedu.org/jcmedu-articles/skin-infections-and-its-causes.pdf
Nurkomaria, Farid, M., Akbar, R., Ababil, A., Abdillah, M., Nilasari, Fardilah, M., Sofitra, A., Handayani, S., Ningsi, F. P., Fatinah, D., Febrianti, F., Nurnaningsih, Astuti, S., Julianti, R., & Azmin, N. (2023). Kearifan lokal masyarakat dalam pemanfaatan tumbuhan obat tradisional di wisata air terjun. Jurnal Sains dan Terapan, 2(1), 33-44. https://doi.org/10.57218/juster.v2i1.430
Octviani, M., Fadhli, H., & Yuneistya, E. (2019). Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract of shallot (Allium cepa L.) peels using the disc diffusion method. Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.7454/psr.v6i1.4333
Phumat, P., Khongkhunthian, S., Wanachantararak, P., & Okonogi, S. (2017). Potential of Piper betle extracts on inhibition of oral pathogens. Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics, 11(6), 307–315. https://doi.org/10.5582/ddt.2017.01061
Quave, C. L. (2008). An ethnopharmacological approach to multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Evaluation of Italian plants used in the traditional healing of skin disease. Dissertation. Florida International University. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/docview/304815630
Sagar, N. A., & Pareek, S. (2020). Antimicrobial assessment of polyphenolic extracts from onion (Allium cepa L.) skin of fifteen cultivars by sonication-assisted extraction method. Heliyon, 6(11), e05478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05478
Sonphakdi, T., Tani, A., Payaka, A., & Ungcharoenwiwat, P. (2024). Antibacterial and toxicity studies of phytochemicals from Piper betle leaf extract. Journal of King Saud University - Science, 36(10), 103430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2024.103430
Taylor, T. A., & Unakal, C. G. (2025). Staphylococcus aureus Infection. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441868/
Teanpaisan, R., Kawsud, P., Pahumunto, N., & Puripattanavong, J. (2017). Screening for antibacterial and antibiofilm activity in Thai medicinal plant extracts against oral microorganisms. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 7(2), 172–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.06.007
Valle, D. L., Andrade, J. I., Puzon, J. J. M., Cabrera, E. C., & Rivera, W. L. (2015). Antibacterial activities of ethanol extracts of Philippine medicinal plants against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 5(7), 532–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.04.005
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Vendra Setiawan, Nathanel Triono, Astrid Karindra Agustina, Lovely Anastasia Moira, Verna Biutifasari, Krisyanti Budipramana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY License). This license allows authors to use all articles, data sets, graphics, and appendices in data mining applications, search engines, web sites, blogs, and other platforms by providing an appropriate reference. The journal allows the author(s) to hold the copyright without restrictions and will retain publishing rights without restrictions.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
