Abstract :
Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem that has serious implications for morbidity, mortality, and health costs. Based on the Antimicrobial Resistant in Indonesia (AMRIN-Study) study, it was reported that there were bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics including Escherichia coli resistant to ampicillin (73%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (56%) and ciprofloxacin (22%). Staphylococcus aureus resistant to oxacillin (40 %), vancomycin (40%), clindamycin (50%) and levofloxacin (50%). According to AMRIN-Study, the incidence of antibiotic resistance is still high. Global problems regarding antibiotic resistance need to be solved, one solution to these problems if the antibiotics used experience resistance is the use of alternative medicine with herbal plants that have antibacterial properties and benefits. In Indonesia, the salam plant is a distinctive and easy-to-find plant that is often used as a spice. Bay leaf or Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. contains secondary metabolites that function as antibacterial substances, namely saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. Method: Systematic Literature Review with literature search strategy using Google Scholar and PubMed. The literature used discusses bay leaf extract, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and antibacterial activity. Results: 14 research articles described the antibacterial activity of bay leaf extract by inhibiting the growth of S. aureus and E. coli in the medium, strong, and very strong categories. Conclusion: Bay leaf extract can inhibit the growth of S. aureus and E. coli because it contains phytochemical compounds that have antibacterial properties including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids / triterpenoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, essential oils and carbohydrates.
Keywords: Bay leaf extract, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and antibacterial activity