Screening in Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Celery (Apium Graveolens) Against Staphylococcus sp.

Introduction: Many herbal antimicrobials have been developed to treat various diseases. Celery (Apium graveolens) has antibacterial potential because it contains flavonoids, saponins, and tannins The purpose of the current research was to determine the extract celery potential as an agent of antibacterial Staphylococcus sp. Methods: This research was conducted by two methods, namely the well diffusion test and the dilution test. The parameters measured for the well diffusion test were the diameter of the inhibition zone, and for the dilution test with Total Plate Count (TPC), for the determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concenntration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). The inhibition zone diameter data were analyzed statistically using SPSS 20.0, while the dilution test data were analyzed descriptively. Results: The results of the well diffusion test showed that the concentration of celery extract affected inhibiting bacterial growth at all concentrations. The highest value of the inhibition zone diameter of celery extract was found at a concentration of 100%, for Staphylococcus aureus there (11.67 ± 0.57 mm), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (11.67 ± 0.57mm). The MIC value of celery extract on the Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis growth was at 25 %. Meanwhile, the MBC could not be found because at the highest concentration of the extract there was still bacterial growth. Conclusion: In general, celery extract (Apium graveolens) had an effect in impeding the Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]