DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i3.10

Keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Escherichia coli; Pimeleodendron griffithianum

Abstract

Pimeleodendron griffithianum is one of the species in the Euphorbiaceae family. The family consists of species with excellent research potential that are believed to possess therapeutic properties or exert beneficial pharmacological effects on the animal body. Since the chemical constituents and biological activity of this species are not widely studied and reported, this research has been conducted to determine the phytochemical content and antibacterial activity of the polar, medium, and non-polar fractions from the stembark of this plant. The stembark of Pimeleodendron griffithianum was collected from Pos Kuala Mu, Sungai Siput, Perak. The sample was cleaned, cut, and ground into powder before extraction. The extract was brought to separation and fractionation using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) to obtain polar, medium, and non-polar fractions. The fractions were then subjected to a phytochemical screening test to identify alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. All the fractions were also tested for antibacterial activity using the Disc Diffusion Method against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli). The phytochemical results indicated the presence of terpenoids in all fractions, flavonoids in non-polar and medium polar fractions, steroids in non-polar fractions, saponin in medium polar fractions, and tannin in polar fractions. As for the antibacterial activity, the medium polarity fraction exhibited significant inhibition against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with values of 10 and 14 mm diameter of zone inhibition, respectively. The non-polar fraction showed inhibition of growth in both gram-negative and positive bacteria.