Antibacterial Effects of Extraction and Fractionation of Andrographis paniculata and Curcuma domestica and Combination on the Growth of Salmonella typhi

Typhoid fever is a health issue in several developing countries, including Indonesia. The primary standard treatment involves antibiotics, but improper and indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to bacterial resistance. Due to the increasing antibiotic resistance, alternative approaches, such as using natural substances, are needed. Among these substances are Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees and Curcuma domestica Valeton. This study was aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity of extracts and fractions of A. paniculata and C. domestica at various concentrations and their combinations by measuring the inhibition zones against Salmonella typhi. This experimental study is purely in vitro, using the maceration extraction method with 70% ethanol. The fractionation process employs liquid-liquid extraction using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and water solvents. Antibacterial activity was assessed by the size of the inhibition zone from each plant at various concentrations and their combinations using the disk diffusion method. The results showed that inhibition zones were formed from the extracts and fractions of both plants at all concentrations and combinations, but no significant (P?> 0.05) differences were found. The largest inhibition zone was observed in the n-hexane fraction at a 40% concentration for A. paniculata and in the ethyl acetate fraction at 20% for C. domestica. A 1:1 combination exhibited the largest inhibition zone compared to other combinations or single preparations.