Zanthoxylum acanthopodium: Microscopic, Chemical Characteristic, and anti- Enterococcus faecalis Effectivity of Fruit and Leaves Ethanol Extract

Oral and dental problems caused by microbial infections are one of the global health problems which reduce the quality of life for those affected. Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive bacterium, linked to oral cavity infections, which are usually managed by chlorhexidine as an oral antiseptic. However, there is a concern related to the occurrence of its resistance. Zanthoxylum acanthopodium has been reported to have antimicrobial activity, but its activity against E. faecalis has not yet been known. This research aims to observe microscopic characteristics by scanning electron microscopic, determining total flavonoid content, and identifying anti-E. faecalis effectiveness of fruit and leaf of Z. acanthopodium ethanol extract. Microscopic evaluation confirmed the presence of the epicarp and mesocarp in fruits, meanwhile three different forms of calcium oxalate existed in its leaf. Further evaluation showed that fruit ethanol extract (flavonoid content of 20.84 mg EQ/g) did not exhibit activity against E. faecalis. However, leaf ethanol extract (flavonoid content of 131.73 mg EQ/g) showed activity against E. faecalis with a coefficient value of 0.4 relative to chlorhexidine. This study demonstrated for the first time, antimicrobial effectiveness of Z. Acanthopodium leaves ethanol extract against E. faecalis.