Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of I. carnea Stem

Abstract

The stems of water spinach (Ipomoea carnea Jacq.) have the potential to be developed as a source of natural bioactive compounds because they contain various secondary metabolites with biological activities, such as antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study aims to identify the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the ethyl acetate fraction of water spinach stems against Bacillus subtilis. Extraction and fractionation were performed to obtain the ethyl acetate fraction, followed by phytochemical screening using tube tests and Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC). Antioxidant activity was analyzed using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) method, while antibacterial activity was tested using the disk diffusion method. The results of the phytochemical screening indicated the presence of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, and flavonoids, in the ethyl acetate fraction of water spinach stems. The antioxidant test results showed a TE value of 2.955 mg/L with antioxidant activity of 29.55 ± 5.86 mg TE/g at a concentration of 20 mg/L, as well as a TE value of 9.520 mg/L with antioxidant activity of 95.20 ± 15.25 mg TE/g at a concentration of 100 mg/L. Antibacterial testing showed the formation of inhibition zones against Bacillus subtilis with diameters ranging from 11.72 ± 0.46 mm to 16.09 ± 0.73 mm at various concentrations of the fraction. Thus, the ethyl acetate fraction of water spinach stems has potential as a source of natural compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial activity.