Maria Denise D. Malhabour, Julia Theresa A. Regalado, Jan Philip S. Wong (March 2014)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
cissus quadrangularis L. is a succulent plant of family Vitaceae commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas. Cissus quadrangularis L. extracts are known to possess antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. However, fresh stems of Cissus quadrangularis L. produce irritating action the human skin which is caused by the presence of calcium oxalate. The present study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. with calcium oxalate compared to the aqueous extract without calcium oxalate against Staphylococcus aureus. Calcium oxalate was separated from the extract through centrifugation. Antibacterial property was determined by measurement of zones of inhibition (mm) achieved through disk diffusion method. Zones of inhibition of extract without calcium oxalate showed no significant difference to the extract with calcium oxalate. Extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. with calcium oxalate exhibited a zone of inhibition of 11.67 + 1.15 mm. Aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis L. without calcium oxalate showed 11.00 + 1.15 mm zone of inhibition. Removal of calcium oxalate does not affect antibacterial property of Cissus quadrangularis L. extract. The results of the study have implications in the use of Cissus quadrangularis L. as an antibacterial agent on the human skin and in several other applications requiring these properties.