FORMULATION AND TEST OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY PREPARATION PAPER SOAP STARFRUIT LEAVES EXTRACT (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) AGAINST BACTERIA Staphylococcus epidermidis

Abstract

Along with the progress of the times, innovations in the field of soap making continue to develop. One form
of innovation that is now popular in the community is paper soap. On the other hand, starfruit plants
(Averrhoa bilimbi L.) is known to have potential as an antibacterial agent. This study aims to evaluate the
concentration of paper soap preparations made from starfruit leaves extract (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) which are
most effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria. This study uses an experimental method. The leaves are
then extracted by the maceration method using 96% ethanol. The extract is further defractionated into n
hexane, ethyl acetate, and water fractions. Each extract and fraction is formulated into a paper soap
preparation with concentrations of 7.5%, 15%, and 22.5%. For comparison, positive control in the form of
Travelling Paper Soap and negative control in the form of soap-based. The antibacterial activity test used
the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria. The results showed that paper soap
preparations with a concentration of 22.5% ethyl acetate fraction produced the largest inhibition zone, which
was 22.80 mm and the result is close to the positive control inhibition zone of 23.45 mm.