Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Water Hyacinth

(Eichhornia crassipe (Mart.) Solm) Against

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes

Amelia Febriani

, Rosario Trijuliamos Manalu and Novriana Devisari Damanik

Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut Sains dan Teknologi Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia

Keywords: Antibacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes, Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes),

Lake Toba.

Abstract: Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solm) is recognized for its antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-

inflammatory, and diuretic properties, containing various active compounds such as saponins, flavonoids,

polyphenols, and alkaloids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity against

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes a 70% ethanolic extract of water hyacinth from

Lake Toba. The solid diffusion method was employed to determine the minimum inhibition zone, using

tetracycline as a positive control and 10% DMSO as a negative control. The results indicated significant

antibacterial activity of the extract against both bacteria. For Staphylococcus epidermidis, inhibition zones

measured 10.59 ± 0.07 mm (25%), 11.41 ± 0.04 mm (50%), 12.43 ± 0.10 mm (75%), and 14.44 ± 0.01 mm

(100%), with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25%. In comparison, the inhibition zones for

Propionibacterium acnes were 11.20 ± 0.08 mm (25%), 11.44 ± 0.01 mm (50%), 14.51 ± 0.04 mm (75%),

and 19.37 ± 0.12 mm (100%), with an MIC of 20%. These findings highlight the remarkable antibacterial

efficacy of water hyacinth extract at these concentrations and support its potential pharmacological and

therapeutic applications.

1 INTRODUCTION

Water hyacinth is well-known for causing major

environmental harm and imposing a major

management-related financial burden. Nevertheless,

it presents significant opportunities if effectively

utilized, particularly by rural areas. Variables include

high temperatures, eutrophic conditions, and other

environmental factors drive the plant to flourish at

places it has been introduced to. Considered to be one

of the most troublesome invading weeds worldwide,

white horehound is white Its control and eradication

are quite difficult and call for an all-encompassing

plan and community active participation (Harun et al.,

2021). By reducing oxygen levels and preventing

sunlight required for photosynthesis in submerged

aquatic plants, the dense mats created by water

hyacinth disturb water flow and lower fish

populations. Furthermore, these mats provide ideal

circumstances for the spread of disease-carrying

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8015-5169

organisms such as mosquitoes, therefore aggravating

public health issues (Murugesh et al., 2023). Water

hyacinth's expansion in Lake Toba has blocked

sunlight, lowered fish counts, and hampered local

livelihoods depending on the lake's resources. Dense

mats of the plant develop on the surface of the lake,

upsetting the aquatic habitat and thereby reducing the

lake's ecological and aesthetic worth (Tobing &

Harahap, 2024)

Water hyacinth is clearly valuable as a source of

bioactive compounds and in the field of

phytoremediation, despite various challenges. The

plant is quite fit for bioremediation because of its fast

development rate and great biomass. From water

bodies, it can efficiently absorb heavy metals and

other pollutants (Peng et al., 2020). Water hyacinth's

phytochemicals contains several metabolites, such as

vitamins, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, phenolic

compounds, lignins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and

sterols. With the occurrence of all these secondary

metabolites, a wide range of therapeutic values has

Febriani, A., Manalu, R. T. and Damanik, N. D.

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipe (Mart.) Solm) Against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes.

DOI: 10.5220/0013489400004612

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of BRIN’s 2nd International Conference for Health Research (ICHR 2024), pages 19-27

ISBN: 978-989-758-755-9

been attributed to the plant, of which the alkaloids,

phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, flavonoids,

tannins, and saponins of the plant exhibited promising

pharmacological effects. (Gebrehiwot et al., 2022)

The search for antimicrobial drugs has been

heightened by the developing issue of antibiotic

resistance. Two known to be causes of skin infections

and inflammatory illnesses including acne vulgaris

are Staphylococcus epidermidis and

Propionibacterium acnes. Gram-positive bacterium

S. epidermidis uses chances to infect patients with

compromised immune systems and creates biofilms

on medical equipment, therefore complicating

therapy (Nguyen, 2017). Gram-positive bacterium P.

acnes causes inflammation and helps comedones to

grow, therefore aggravating acne (Dreno et al., 2015).

Previous investigations have indicated that water

hyacinth extracts have antibacterial qualities and can

fight several kinds of microbes rather successfully.

Indicating its natural antimicrobial action, Asmare

and Gure (2019) showed that extracts obtained from

water hyacinth showed considerable antibacterial

activities against several infections. Recent research

revealed how well methanolic and ethanolic extracts

made from water hyacinth leaves inhibited the growth

of bacteria—more especially, S. aureus and E. coli.

These results show the possible antibacterial

properties of water hyacinth extracts (Jouda et al.,

2016).

Flavonoids and alkaloids are among the

phytochemical components whose ability to generate

antimicrobial actions via several channels is well

known. Flavonoids can mess with bacterial cell

membranes and stop nucleic acid synthesis.

Conversely, alkaloids can stop bacterial protein

production (Cushnie & Lamb, 2011). This

investigation is to investigate the particular effects of

these compounds on S. epidermidis and P. acnes in

order to acquire a deeper knowledge of their possible

as alternative antibacterial agents.

The dual issue of controlling the invading spread

of water hyacinth and the pressing need for new

antibacterial drugs makes this work current and

important. Using water hyacinth as a source of

antibacterial compounds not only offers a possible fix

for the environmental problems brought about by this

invading species, but also supports the more general

effort against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Still, there

are few thorough investigations comparing its

efficacy against S. epidermidis and P. acnes. This

work aims to close this gap by evaluating the

antibacterial activity of ethanol extracts obtained

from water hyacinth from lake Toba, North Sumatera,

Indonesia against these two medically important

infections.

2 MATERIAL AND METHOD

2.1 Material

The test microbes used were Staphylococcus

epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, which

were obtained from the Microbiology Laboratory,

Faculty of Pharmacy, USU. Mueller Hilton Agar

(Oxoid) was used as the growth medium. The test

material, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), was

sourced from Lake Toba Haranggaol. The solvent

used in the maceration process was 70% ethanol. For

phytochemical screening, various reagents and

substances were used, including aquadest (Brataco),

2N HCl, Dragendorff reagent, Mayer reagent, 70%

ethanol, Mg, concentrated HCl, anhydrous acetate,

chloroform, and concentrated H2SO4 (Lieberman-

Burchard). Antibiotic discs, tetracycline, and 0.9%

NaCl were used for the microbial test suspension

media. Tetracycline was used as the positive control,

while DMSO served as the negative control

2.2 Method

The leaves of the freshwater hyacinth, collected from

Lake Toba Haranggaol, North Sumatera, Indonesia

were identified as Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.)

Solms by the Herbarium Medanense Laboratory

(MEDA), North Sumatera University, Indonesia with

determination number 6342/MEDA/2021. After

collection, the leaves were cleaned and dried away

from direct sunlight to preserve their secondary

metabolites, followed by slicing. After that prepared

the powder from the dried leaves using the

maceration technique. The solution was filtered via

filter paper, then evaporated on a rotary evaporator to

concentrate the extract.

Water hyacinth extract were tested for

antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion method

to find MIC at different concentrations like 25%,

50%, 75%, and 100%. The MIC against

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium

acnes was also determined by the solid dilution

method at a concentration of 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%,

and 5%.

ICHR 2024 - BRIN’s International Conference for Health Research (ICHR)

2.3 Preparation of Water Hyacinth

Extract

Water hyacinth was obtained from Lake Toba

Haranggaol and dried out of direct sunlight to avoid

damaging the secondary metabolites. To acquire 5 kg

of dried powder, the dried sample (simplicia) was

ground with a blender and sieved through a 60-mesh

sieve. This material was macerated with 25 liters of

70% ethanol, as ethanol concentrations exceeding

70% are less effective in dissolving low molecular

weight flavonoid compounds. The maceration

process entailed the powder being soaked in ethanol

for three days, with intermittent stirring. The resulting

solution was filtered through flannel cloth and re-

filtered using filter paper, followed by re-maceration

until it was clear. The filtrate was evaporated in a

vacuum rotary evaporator and subsequently in a water

bath to produce a thick extract. This extract was

subsequently stored in a dark glass container. (Jimmy

et al., 2019).

2.4 The Ethanol Examination of the

Extract

Testing of the extract for ethanol was performed to

ascertain that the extract to be tested on bacteria was

ethanol-free. Therefore, the inhibitory activity could

not be attributed to residual ethanol in the extract but

to the secondary metabolites of the simplicia. The test

was conducted by gradually adding 1N NaOH to 0.5

g of 70% ethanol extract of water hyacinth leaves,

then allowing it to settle for 3 minutes, then adding 2

mL of 0.1N iodine will result in a yellow precipitate

within 30 minutes, with an iodoform odor if the

extract still contains ethanol. (Saturño,et al, 2019).

2.5 Phytochemical Screening of Water

Hyacinth Extract

The chemical compounds in water hyacinth were

identified through qualitative phytochemical

screening. The subsequent assessments were

implemented during the examination (Baehaki et al.,

2023):

2.5.1 Alkaloid Identification

The mass was immersed in 20 mL of chloroform and

5 mL of 25% ammonia after 1 g of extract and powder

were added. Stir and heat the mixture over a water

boiler, and subsequently filter it. Vaporize the filtrate

until it is half filled. Pour the remaining evaporation

into a test tube and add 1 mL of 2N hydrochloric acid.

Shake the tube and allow it to form two layers. The

clear layer was divided into three test tubes (Tubes I,

II, and III) with equal quantities of Mayer's reagent in

Tube I, Dragendorf's reagent in Tube II, and

Bouchardat's reagent in Tube III. The formation of a

white precipitate with Mayer's reagent, a brown-black

precipitate with Bouchardat's reagent, and a scarlet

precipitate with Dragendorf's reagent were indicators

of the presence of alkaloids.

2.5.2 Identification of Flavonoids

Three mL of 70% ethanol was mixed with about 1 mL

of powder and it was stirred, warmed and then shaken

once more. The solution was then filtered. The filtrate

was added with 2 drops of concentrated HCl and 0.1

g Mg. The colours red, orange and green showed up

in the ethanol layer, which indicated the existence of

flavonoids.

2.5.3 Identification of Steroids and

Terpenoid

For a period of two hours, 20 mL of ether was

combined with 2 g of powder and extract. Next, it was

filtered and evaporated in an evaporation dish until

residue was obtained. The residual was subsequently

combined with 2 drops of anhydrous acetate and 2 mL

of chloroform. Subsequently, it was transferred to a

test tube and gradually introduced with 1 mL of

concentrated H2SO4 (Lieberman-Burchard) through

the tube wall. The presence of terpenoids was

indicated by the formation of a purple ring, while the

presence of steroids was indicated by a green color.

2.5.4 Tannin Identification

Ethanol was added to 2 g of powder until it was

completely submerged. Next, 1 mL of the solution

was transferred to a test tube and mixed with 2-3

drops of a 1% FeCl3 solution. The formation of a

blue-black or green color was indicative of a positive

outcome.

2.5.5 Identification of Saponin

A test vial was filled with 1 g of powder and extract,

which was subsequently added to 10 mL of hot water,

cooled, and vigorously shaken for 10 seconds. The

presence of saponins was indicated by the formation

of stable froth of 1–10 cm within less than 10 minutes,

which did not dissipate upon the addition of 1 drop of

2N hydrochloric acid.

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipe (Mart.) Solm) Against Staphylococcus epidermidis and

Propionibacterium acnes

2.6 Antibacterial Activity

The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disc

diffusion technique. 0.1 mL of bacterial suspension

was applied to petri dishes containing sterile Mueller

Hinton Agar (MHA) media. Test solutions at

concentrations of 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% were

applied to paper discs and then placed on the agar

surface that had been previously inoculated with

bacteria. The plates were placed in an incubator set at

a temperature of 37°C for a duration of 24 hours. The

antibacterial activity was assessed by quantifying the

diameter of the transparent areas surrounding the

discs using calipers (EUCAST, 2019).

The solid dilution method was utilized to

determine the minimum inhibitory concentration

(MIC). Bacterial proliferation was detected starting

from the minimum concentration of the extract that

resulted in the formation of zones of inhibition.

Following the acquisition of the inhibition zone

results, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)

was established using the indicated concentrations.

Solutions (1 mL), bacterial suspension (1 mL), and

MHA medium were combined and placed in petri

dishes. The solution was placed in a controlled

environment at a temperature of 37°C for a duration

of 24 hours. The minimum inhibitory concentration

(MIC) refers to the lowest concentration of the

antibacterial solution that effectively prevented the

development of microorganisms. (Thakur et al.,

2018)

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Extraction and Pytochemical

Screening

The water hyacinth was extracted using the

maceration process, which was selected for its

simplicity, ease of use, and non-destructive effects on

the sample's constituents. Maceration is the process

of immersing powdered simplicia in a solvent that is

appropriate, and then extracting the active ingredients

at room temperature. The solvent utilized for this

technique was 70% ethanol. Ethanol concentrations

higher than 70% have been found to reduce the

extraction efficiency of total flavonoids. This is

because higher ethanol concentrations are less

effective at dissolving low molecular weight

flavonoid compounds. This observation aligns with

the findings of Sudirman et al. (2024).

Recent research has investigated several methods

and compounds for extracting phytochemicals from

water hyacinth, focusing on the efficiency and

productivity of various techniques. Nguyen et al.

(2019) examined the effectiveness of using

ultrasound-assisted extraction for the extraction of

flavonoids from water hyacinth. As observed in their

study, UAE showed a better extraction yield and was

efficient compared to the conventional method of

maceration. The UAE technique utilizes ultrasonic

waves to enhance the penetration of the solvent into

the plant material, offering a more efficient extraction

process.

Kumar and Singh, in their work 2020, have

studied different solvent systems for flavonoid

extraction from water hyacinth. It has been observed

that the solution containing ethanol and water in a

ratio of 50:50 showed maximum content of

flavonoids. This suggests that a balanced-polarity

solvent system can increase the efficacy of extraction.

This finding supports the principle that extraction of

flavonoids requires ethanol of a middle level, about

50-70%, since this concentration exhibits moderate

polarity.

The maceration technique in this study has

resulted in a yield of 160 grams of the concentrated

extract from 5 kg water hyacinth powder, which

works out to approximately 32% of the extract. The

yield obtained in this study is comparable to the

results published by Nguyen et al. (2019), who used

ultrasound-assisted extraction to obtain a yield of

35%, and Kumar and Singh, who in 2020 obtained

30% yield utilizing a mixture of ethanol and water in

a ratio of 50:50. These comparisons indicate that,

although maceration is an effective and easy

technique, other processes like UAE could give

slightly higher yields and efficiency.

The 70% ethanol extract of water hyacinth did not

exhibit any detectable ethanol in the ethanol-free test,

as evidenced by the absence of an iodoform odor and

the absence of yellow precipitate formation. This

confirmation indicates that the extract is able to

advance to the subsequent stage. The test was crucial

due to ethanol's antiseptic characteristics, which may

inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Thus, the lack

of ethanol guaranteed that any inhibitory effects were

solely caused by the plant's chemical components

rather than any remaining ethanol.

This discovery is consistent with recent

investigations that have shown that 70% ethanol is

efficient in extracting active chemicals while limiting

the amount of leftover ethanol. An investigation

conducted by Lim et al. (2022) demonstrated that

70% ethanol exhibited the most effective antibacterial

ICHR 2024 - BRIN’s International Conference for Health Research (ICHR)

activities while minimizing the presence of residues

that could potentially interfere with following testing

stages. A separate investigation has verified that

extracts made using a 70% ethanol solution exhibited

notable effectiveness in maintaining the bioactive

components, which are accountable for the

antibacterial characteristics, without any interference

from residual ethanol (Nguyen et al., 2019).

Phytochemical screening was done on both water

hyacinth powder and its 70% ethanol extract. Tests

were positive for the presence of various bioactive

compounds, including alkaloids, tannins, saponins,

and steroids in both powder form and ethanol extract.

The results of the phytochemical screening of the

powdered form and the 70% ethanol extract of water

hyacinth are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Phytochemical screening of powder and 70%

ethanol of water hyacinth extract.

Chemical

compounds

Result

Extract Powde

Flavonoids - -

Alkaloids + +

Tanins + ++

onin ++ +

Steroi

++ +

Triterpenoids - -

(-): indicates the absence of compounds

(+): indicates the presence of compounds

Results for the saponin test were positive in

forming a stable foam of about 1 cm in height. This

foam persisted even after the injection of 2N HCl.

The test for triterpenoids was positive; it was

indicated by the formation of a purple ring.

The tannin test was positive as a black-green color

developed following the addition of 1% FeCl3. The

flavonoid test was also positive as an orange-yellow

color developed after the addition of 1N NaOH in the

testing of flavonoids. However, the results turned out

to be negative for alkaloids on both powder form and

extract. On the contrary, Mayer's reagent did not form

a white precipitate. Dragendorf's and Bouchardat's

reagents did not form red and brown precipitates,

respectively. Absence of the appearance of a green

tint indicates negativity in steroid testing.

Ben Bakrim et al., (2021) conducted a recent

investigation where they found that water hyacinth

extracts had comparable phytochemical profiles.

Their investigation substantiated the existence of

saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, while also

documenting discrepancies in alkaloid levels based

on the geographic source of the specimens. This

diversity agrees with the findings reported by Wang

et al. 2020, which also reported adverse outcomes for

both alkaloids and steroids. They proposed that

environmental parameters related to soil composition,

water quality, and climate conditions generally have

a strong bearing on phytochemical composition in the

water hyacinth.

Moreover, a study conducted by Yan et al. (2022)

emphasized the significance of various extraction

techniques in identifying the amount and composition

of phytochemicals. The researchers discovered that

ethanol extracts contained a wide range of bioactive

chemicals, but specific alkaloids were more

effectively extracted using other solvents like

methanol or chloroform. These results confirm that

using ethanol extraction with a concentration of 70%

effectively separated tannins, saponins, and

flavonoids, but did not isolate alkaloids or steroids.

3.2 Antibacterial Activity

3.2.1 Inhibition Zone Diameter

In the antimicrobial activity test of the 70% ethanol

extract of water hyacinth using the disc diffusion

method, each disc was impregnated with 20 µL of

extract at concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and

100%. The 10% DMSO was chosen as the solvent

because it can dissolve both polar and nonpolar

substances and does not possess antibacterial

properties, ensuring that any observed antimicrobial

effects are due to the extract itself

The results showed a clear concentration-

dependent increase in the inhibition zones, with

higher concentrations producing larger zones of

inhibition against Staphylococcus epidermidis and

Propionibacterium acnes. Detailed data on the

inhibition zones can be seen in Table 2, while

antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract of water

hyacinth can bee seen in Figure 1, highlighting the

inhibition zones against Staphylococcus epidermidis

and Propionibacterium acnes.

Table 2 displays the measuring results of the

inhibition zone diameter of the 70% ethanol extract

of water hyacinth against Staphylococcus epidermidis

and Propionibacterium acnes. The obtained

inhibition zone diameters of Staphylococcus

epidermidis were 10.59± 0.07 mm, 11.41±0.04 mm,

12,43±0.10mm, and 14,44±0.01 mm for

concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%

respectively. The positive control, tetracycline,

successfully suppressed and eradicated Gram-

positive bacteria, whereas the negative control, 10%

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipe (Mart.) Solm) Against Staphylococcus epidermidis and

Propionibacterium acnes

Table 2: Antimicrobial Activity Test Results of 70% Ethanol Extract of Water Hyacinth Against Staphylococcus epidermidis

and Propionibacterium acnes.

Concentration Inhibition Zone Diameter (mm) Inhibitory

response

Staphylococcus epidermidi

Propionibacterium acnes

WHE 25% 10.59± 0.07 11.20± 0.08 Moderate

WHE 50% 11.41±0.04 11.44±0.01 Moderate

WHE 75%

12,43±0.10 14,51±0.04 Moderate

WHE 100% 14,44±0.01 19,37±0.12 Moderate

Tetrac

cline 28,53±0.14 26,31±0.05 Stron

DMSO 10% - - None

(-): No inhibition zone formed; WHE: Water Hyacinth Extract

Data are means of three replicates (n = 3) ± standard error.

Figure 1: Inhibition Zone of Ethanol Extract of Water Hyacinth Against Staphylococcus epidermidis (right) and

Propionibacterium acnes (left).

DMSO, had no inhibitory effects due to the absence

of antibacterial characteristics in DMSO. Niu et al.

(2017) classified variation in inhibition zone diameter

into three categories: mild activity (0-9 mm),

moderate activity (10-14 mm), and strong activity

(>15 mm). The results indicate that the 70% ethanol

extract of water hyacinth, at concentrations of 25%,

50%, 75%, and 100%, has moderate activity. In

contrast, the positive control (tetracycline)

demonstrates significant activity

The measurement results of the inhibition

diameter of 70% ethanol extract of water hyacinth

against Propionibacterium acnes as shown in Table

1 were 11.20± 0.08 mm at 25% concentration,

11.44±0.01 mm at 50% concentration, 14,51±0.04

mm at 75% concentration, and 19,37±0.12 mm at

100% concentration. The negative control yielded

negative results compared to the positive control. The

positive control (tetracycline) was effective in

inhibiting and killing Gram-positive bacteria, while

the negative control (10% DMSO) did not show any

inhibition as DMSO does not have antibacterial

properties. These results categorize the 70% ethanol

extract of water hyacinth as having moderate activity

at concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 75%, and as

having strong activity at 100% concentration. The

positive control (tetracycline) is categorized as

having strong activity. Gram-positive bacteria tend to

be more sensitive to antibacterials due to their simpler

cell wall structure compared to Gram-negative

bacteria, allowing antibacterial compounds to enter

Gram-positive bacterial cells more easily. Gram-

positive bacteria have cell walls with more

peptidoglycan, fewer lipids, and contain

polysaccharides (teichoic acids) (Alhumaid et al.,

2021).

Triterpenoid chemicals suppress bacterial growth

by interacting with the porins, which are

transmembrane proteins located in bacterial cell walls

and which have been shown to ultimately result in the

formation of robust polymer bonds leading to

structural damage of the porins. This phenomenon

results in cellular damage that decreases the

permeability of the cell wall, which eventually leads

to a lack of nutrients and hence inhibiting or causing

the death of bacterial growth. (Wrońska et al., 2022).

Similarly, steroids demonstrate antibacterial activity

through their interaction with membrane lipids,

resulting in the release of bacterial liposomes. The

interaction between cell membrane phospholipids

and lipophilic substances renders the membranes

permeable, leading to a decrease in membrane

integrity and resulting in cell lysis (Yan et al., 2022)

Susceptibility to antibacterials depends on the

type of cell wall construction; high susceptibility is

seen in Gram-positive bacteria because of the simpler

ICHR 2024 - BRIN’s International Conference for Health Research (ICHR)

makeup of the cell wall when compared with the

complex makeup in Gram-negative bacteria. Other

factors that may influence antibacterial assays include

the quantity of the extract, the presence of other

secondary metabolites, incubation time, room

conditions, sterility of equipment, the number of

persons in the room, and how well asepsis is

maintained by the experimenter (Breijyeh et al., 2020.

These variables are essential for guaranteeing precise

and replicable outcomes in antibacterial research.

3.2.2 Minimum Inhibitory Concentration

(MIC) Test

The minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC, was

determined using the solid dilution test. This test was

carried out to establish the lowest concentration of the

sample that exhibited antibacterial activity against the

test microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory

concentration, MIC of the water hyacinth extract

concentration, was determined, whereby the zone of

inhibition considered to be the smallest was 25% and

then followed by further reduction to 20%, 15%,

10%, and lastly 5%.

Table 3: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Test

Results of 70% Ethanol Extract of Water Hyacinth Against

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes.

Concentration Result

S.aureus P.acnes

WHE 25% - -

WHE 20% + -

WHE 15% + +

WHE 10% + +

WHE 5% + +

Negative Control (MHA Media) - -

Positive Control (Media +

Bacteria)

WHE: Water Hyacinth extract

(+) Indicates bacterial growth

(-) Indicates no bacterial growth

The study demonstrated that the 70% ethanol

extract of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

exhibited significant antibacterial activity against

Staphylococcus aureus, with a Minimum Inhibitory

Concentration (MIC) determined at 25%. Bacterial

growth was observed at lower concentrations (5%,

10%, 15%, and 20%), indicating that higher

concentrations are necessary for effective inhibition.

This finding aligns with previous research

highlighting the potent antibacterial properties of

water hyacinth extracts against pathogens

(Kavinkumar et.al., 2023)).

Similarly, the extract showed effectiveness

against Propionibacterium acnes, with an MIC of

20%. Growth was detected at lower concentrations

(5%, 10%, and 15%) but not at 20% and 25%. This

suggests that the extract can effectively inhibit the

proliferation of P. acnes, a key contributor to acne

development. The results indicate that the bioactive

compounds in water hyacinth may disrupt bacterial

cell membranes or metabolic processes, preventing

further growth (Padmarini et.al, 2022). In conclusion,

the findings suggest that the 70% ethanol extract of

water hyacinth has potential as a natural antibacterial

agent against both Staphylococcus aureus and

Propionibacterium acnes. Further research is needed

to identify specific bioactive compounds responsible

for this activity and to explore their potential

applications in treating bacterial infectionstions in

treating bacterial infections.

4 CONCLUSION

The 70% ethanol extract of water hyacinth

(Eichhornia crassipes) demonstrated significant

antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus

epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. For S.

epidermidis, the inhibition zones were 10.59 ± 0.07

mm at a concentration of 25%, 11.41 ± 0.04 mm at

50%, 12.43 ± 0.10 mm at 75%, and 14.44 ± 0.01 mm

at 100%. The minimum inhibitory concentration

(MIC) was determined to be 25%, as bacterial growth

was effectively inhibited at this concentration.

Similarly, for P. acnes, the inhibition zones measured

11.20 ± 0.08 mm at 25%, 11.44 ± 0.01 mm at 50%,

14.51 ± 0.04 mm at 75%, and 19.37 ± 0.12 mm at

100%. The MIC values were 20%, indicating that the

extract exhibited strong antibacterial efficacy at these

concentrations.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Department of

Pharmacy, National Institute of Science and

Technology, Jakarta, Indonesia and Department of

Pharmacy, North Sumatra University, Indonesia for

the encouragement and continuous support that

ultimately resulted in the fulfillment of this study.

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipe (Mart.) Solm) Against Staphylococcus epidermidis and

Propionibacterium acnes

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Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipe (Mart.) Solm) Against Staphylococcus epidermidis and

Propionibacterium acnes