A Novel Antibacterial Agent Myrmeleon formicarius Extract for Diabetic Ulcer Infection

Abstract

Diabetic ulcer is a complication of diabetes mellitus, which is a superficial infection caused by bacteria, and it is difficult to cure. Treatment of diabetic ulcers with antibiotics shows some bacterial resistance, thus requiring safe alternative treatments. This study aimed to determine the effect of Myrmeleon formicarius extract on the growth of bacteria that cause diabetes ulcer infection and the difference in its effect with several antibiotics tested using the diffusion well method. The research type was an experimental laboratory conducted using nine treatments of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, and cefotaxime) and M. formicarius extracts with three replications, respectively. Bacteria used were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Data collected by measuring the diameter of the inhibitory zone on bacterial growth and reducing the diameter of the wells on the bacterial growth medium. The results of inhibition zone observations on bacterial growth were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that M. formicarius extract significantly influenced the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa with a significance value of 0.00 (p <0.05) for both of them. M. formicarius extract of 30% could inhibit S. aureus and P. aeruginosa of (11.00± 1.00) mm and 2,67± 0,57) mm, respectively. Meanwhile, the result of sensitivity test of bacteria to three types of antibiotics revealed that S. aureus was sensitive to ciprofloxacin and resistant to amoxicillin and cefotaxime, whereas the P. aeruginosa was resistant to those antibiotics tested. In summarize, the extract of M. formicarius significantly reduces the growth of bacteria that cause diabetes ulcer infections.