Antimicrobial Activity of Hand Lotion of Flower Mimusops elengi

Background: Aceh is a tropical region that is very many overgrown by various plants that have medicinal properties; one of them is M. elengi. M. elengi flower extract has the main content of triterpene and alcohol, that have antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and antineoplastic activity. Extraction of chemical compounds containing essential oils generally uses distillation, and get the small amounts of chemical compounds, while the maceration with n-hexane solvent, producing less active nonpolar compounds against S. aureus bacteria.

Aim: Isolating the methanol extract from M. elengi flowers and test its antibacterial and antifungal activity. Furthermore, extracts with active concentrations are made into a lotion.

Methods: Methanol extract from M. elengi flower was characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, then tested for antibacterial and antifungal, then made into the lotion. The lotion was tested again for its antimicrobial activity, physical and organoleptic properties.

Results: The most abundant chemical compounds in an extract of M. elengi based on characterisation with GC-MS is Borneol L; (Bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2-ol, 1,7,7-trimethyl, as much as 82%). The methanol extract of M. elengi flower can inhibit the growth of S. aureus bacteria and C. albicans fungi, and also the lotion from methanol extract can inhibit the growth of S. aureus bacteria, but the M. elengi flower extract lotion cannot inhibit the growth of C. albicans fungi. The lotion inhibits the growth of S. aureus bacteria, from a concentration of methanol extract of 8% and 16%. Lotion with 16% methanol extract has 81.33% in activity power compared with positive control. The results of physical and organoleptic properties test, with the concentration of methanol extract of M. elengi 1, 2, 8, and 16%, have pH in the range of 6.6-8 (still in a safe range, 4.5-9 according to SNI 16-4399-1997). The lotion type is m/a, the spreading capacity of the lotion is 18.8 - 39.5 cm2. The power of adhesive at skin ranges from 1 minute 27 seconds to 3 minutes 7 seconds. The viscosity of the lotion ranges from 23,670-24,400 cP, this range is in the range based on SNI 16-4399-1996 (2000-50,000 cP), so the lotion is in a good category. The preferred lotion is at a concentration of 2%, in fragrance.

Conclusion: Antibacterial activity of the lotion of methanol extract of M. elengi flower against S. aureus bacteria was the best at 16%, but could not inhibit the growth of C. albicans fungi. The most abundant compounds in methanol extract are Borneol L compounds; (Bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2-ol, 1,7,7-trimethyl. In general, the physical properties of this lotion meet the requirements of SNI16-4399-1996, SNI 16-4399-1997, and lotions which are preferred at a concentration of 2% in fragrance.