Abstract

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has driven the search for alternative therapeutic agents, particularly from natural sources. Syzygium aromaticum (clove) is known for its antimicrobial properties, and this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of its aqueous and ether extracts against clinically significant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp., Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar diffusion method at concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 100%. The results showed that both extracts exhibited antibacterial activity, with the aqueous extract generally being more effective. Among Gram-negative bacteria, Salmonella spp. showed the highest susceptibility to the aqueous extract (19.6 mm at 100%), while Proteus spp. exhibited the highest inhibition by the ether extract (17.0 mm at 25%). For Gram-positive bacteria, S. epidermidis was the most sensitive, with a 24.0 mm inhibition zone at 100% of the aqueous extract. The ether extract showed lower antimicrobial activity across all tested bacteria. These findings suggest that clove extracts, particularly the aqueous extract, possess significant antibacterial potential and may serve as alternative antimicrobial agents. Further studies are recommended to explore the phytochemical components and mechanisms of action responsible for this activity.

Keywords

Syzygium aromaticum, clove extract, antibacterial activity, antimicrobial resistance, natural antimicrobials, aqueous extract, ether extract, clinical bacterial isolates