The Effectivity of Cocos nucifera (Coconut Haustorium) Extract Against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Health (DOH) release data about the growing number of cases in the Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) especially here in Cavite. 1.5 million of the six million elementary students in the Philippines developed this infection, meaning that one in every four pupils had Urinary Tract Infection. According to the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), Escherichia coli and Candida albicans are major bacteria that cause these infections. This problem guides the researchers in formulating of a solution using a Coconut Haustorium. According to the India Coconut Development Board, it has an acidic pH balance of 4.5, and it contains different nutrients that are essential to the human body.

METHODS

The Coconut Haustorium were undergone Crude Extraction. Then, the extracts were applied to Escherichia coli and Candida albicans using the disk diffusion method. Different concentration (50%, 75%,100%) of Coconut Haustorium extract were prepared. The limitations are the treatments are only to be done in three trials in every antibacterial activity test. The agar disk diffusion test was applied in the testing of antibacterial activity. It was conducted in the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) from April to May 2018. After that, the zone of inhibition was measured using a caliper. The bacteria used were disposed of properly, and the gathered data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

It had inhibitory activity (+++) and reactivity (3) against the test organisms, Escherichia coli, and Candidia albicans. Based on the One-way ANOVA test, the zones of inhibition of the different concentrations of the plant extracts have significant differences. The results of the analysis on Escherichia coli and Candida albicans showed that the computed f-value of samples which was 86.056 and 52.8701 more than the value of f-critical, so the hypothesis was accepted. Therefore, the Coconut Haustorium extract could inhibit those bacteria.

DISCUSSIONS

The findings of this study would rebound to the benefit of the people with UTI to prevent further infection. It can also be used to make alternative medicine for less fortunate people. It is recommended that to further improve the development of this study, future researchers should analyze and test other parts of the coconut. The extract can be also used to test into other microorganisms such as Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia.