Antibacterial activity of peel bligo (Benincasa hispida) extract on the growth of food pathogen bacteria.

Bligo (Benincasa hispida) is an agricultural plant that is cultivated for its fruit and processed into variousfood products. The uniqueness of bligo fruit can be stored for a long time because of the white waxy powder coating the surface of the fruit peel which can prevent the attack of spoilage microorganisms. Bligo fruit and seeds have been reported to have bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and triterpenoids that have potential as antibacterial compounds. However, the antibacterial activity ofbligo fruit peel waste has not been reported so far. This study aims to determine the antibacterial activity of bligo fruit peel extract with water, ethanol, methanol and N-hexane by maceration method inhibiting pathogenic bacteria growth. Antibacterial activity was tested by agar diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella thypi, and Staphylococcus aereus bacteria. The concentration of bligo fruit peel extract using water, ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane consisted of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Based on the results of the antibacterial activity test, it showed that bligo fruit peel extract with water and ethanol with a concentration of 30% could inhibit the growth of Salmonella thypibacteria with an inhibition zone of 1.70 mm and 1.15 mm, and Staphylococcus aureus with the highest inhibition zone of 1.10. mm and 1.28 mm. However, it was not able to inhibit the growth of Bacillus cereus and E. coli. The results of the antibacterial activity test showed that the bligo fruit peel extract with water, ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane as solvents was included in the weak category in inhibitingthe growth of pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]