UNAIR NEWS – Students of Faculty of Medicine (FK) managed to find the effect of white pomegranate skin extract on bacteria that causes cholera disease.ÌýThe pomegranate skin extract’s antibacterial activity, inhibit the growth of Vibrio cholerae.
The FK students from two generation were incorporated in Student Creativity Program Eksakta Research (PKM-PE) team.ÌýThey are Dhika Jannatal Ma’wa and Ummi Imamatal Muttaqin (both class 2016), and Dhea Safitri Ramadhani (class 2017).
This study conducted from the proposal entitled “Effect of Pomegranate ( Punica granatum ) Skin Extract against Vibrio choleraeÌý±õ²ÔÌýVitro “.ÌýThey are grateful that the proposal has passed the selection and received a research grant from Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti) in the 2018 PKM program.
The head of PKM-PE team, Dhika Jannatal Ma’wa  explained that the idea of ​​this research originated from the occurrence of cholera diseases that had become extraordinary events (KLB) in Papua (2008) and Jember (2010) and the potential of pomegranate skin in inhibiting bacteria that causes indigestion.
In addition, previous studies have shown that cholera-causing bacteria have been resistant to some antibiotics, so another alternative is needed to overcome them.
“These three facts raises the question whether pomegranate skin has any effect on the cholera-causing bacteria, which also causes digestive disorders, so it can be an alternative to overcome them,” Dhika said.
As we all know, cholera is a contagious disease in the digestive tract caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae .ÌýThese bacteria enters the body through contaminated drinking water resulting from poor sanitation, or through improperly cooked fish, especially clams.
The main characteristic of cholera disease is terrible diarrhea with “rice rinse water” consistency and distinctive odor (acrid).ÌýCholera can cause severe dehydration and will be fatal if it is not treated immediately.ÌýTreatment is given through aggressive rehydration until diarrhea stops.ÌýIn addition, selection of appropriate antibiotics is also necessary to reduce the number of cholera-causing bacteria.
Explained by Dhika, that pomegranate skin extraction was done with 70% Ethanol, which will activate compounds inhibiting or killing bacteria.ÌýAfter the extract is ensured not contaminated with bacteria, dilution test is conducted to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (KHM).
However, because of the dark color of the extract, the KHM value is difficult to determine.ÌýTherefore, it is followed with culturing all the results on a selective medium against Vibrio cholerae bacteria.ÌýThis is to determine the minimum killing concentration (KBM).
“Based on the results of the study, the minimum concentration of pomegranate skin extracts that can kill Vibrio cholerae bacteria is 50% (5mg / ml),” Dhika said.
Based on this result, Dhika and PKM-PE team hoped that pomegranate skin extract can be used as an alternative to antibiotics to deal with cholera disease.Ìý(*)
Editor: Bambang Bes
