Antidiarrheal Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Cherry Tree (Muntingia calabura L.) Leaf Against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli

Abstract

Aims: The cherry tree (Muntingia calabura L.) is a widely available wild plant containing metabolite compounds that can counter various diseases, including diarrhea. Cherry tree leaves contain flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, which can inhibit bacteria responsible for diarrhea. This research aimed to determine the phytochemical composition and antidiarrheal activity of cherry tree leaf extract against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Study Design:  This study applied a completely randomized design with a positive control using cotrimoxazole antibiotic, a negative control with 10% DMSO, and varying cherry tree leaf extract concentrations of 15%, 25%, and 35%. Place and Duration of Study: Technobio-Industry Laboratory and Bioprospecting Laboratory, Faculty of Biotechnology, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia, between June 2024 and February 2025. Methodology: The stages of this study included sample selection and sorting, standardization of simplicia, extraction using the maceration method with 96% ethanol, measurement of the zone of inhibition diameter (ZID), and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Data were analyzed using SPSS One-Way ANOVA. Results: Ethanol extract of cherry tree leaves had a yield of 28.93%, total flavonoid content (TFC) of 78.18 ± 0.8 mg QE/g extract, total tannin content (TTC) of 18.39 ± 0.8 mg TAE/g extract, and total saponin content (TSC) of 15.09 ± 0.05 g SE/g extract. The 35% cherry tree leaf extract concentration showed the largest ZIDs in B. cereus at 7.02 ± 0.02 mm and in E. coli at 5.31 ± 0.04 mm. The MIC for both B. cereus and E. coli was determined to be 15%. Conclusion: The TFC of cherry tree leaves was determined to be 78.11 mg QE/g extract, the TTC was 18.20 mg TAE/g extract, and the TSC was 15.01 mg SE/g extract. The ZID of the cherry leaf extract tested in the study showed the highest antimicrobial activity against both B. cereus and E. coli at a concentration of 35%. The MIC of the ethanol extract of cherry tree leaves against both B. cereus and E. coli was 1.5%.