Antibacterial Activity of the Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Extracts Against Escherichia coli

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of the different leaf parts of Aloe barbadensis, specifically aloe vera leaf peel, aloe vera leaf gel, and whole leaf, as well as their medicinal properties. Ethanol was the solvent used in extracting the bioactive compounds present in each leaf part. Each leaf part had an ethanolic concentration of 100%. The disc diffusion assay was employed to determine the antibacterial activity of Aloe barbadensis. The appearance of zones of inhibition measured the antibacterial effect. Ampicillin served as the positive control, while distilled water served as the negative control. Antimicrobial tests showed that among the three leaf parts, the aloe vera leaf gel was the only extract that inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli with a mean zone of inhibition of 8.56 mm. The results suggest that aloe vera gel contains certain bioactive compounds that can suppress the growth of Escherichia coli.