Protective shield of jaloh leaves against bacteria.

Jaloh Leaves: A Natural Antibacterial Boost for Your Health?

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how the ethanolic extract of Salix tetrasperma (jaloh) leaves could offer a promising solution against common bacterial infections, enhancing your wellness naturally."

In a world increasingly concerned with antibiotic resistance, the search for new antibacterial agents has intensified. The overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria, posing a significant threat to public health. This challenge has spurred researchers to explore natural alternatives, turning to plants and their rich reservoirs of bioactive compounds.

Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites, such as saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which have shown promising antibacterial properties. These compounds offer a multi-faceted approach to combating bacterial infections, potentially overcoming the limitations of traditional antibiotics.

One such plant, Salix tetrasperma Roxb., commonly known as jaloh in Aceh, Indonesia, has been traditionally used as a febrifuge. Belonging to the Salicaceae family, jaloh is rich in phenols, including flavonoids and tannins, suggesting its potential as an antibacterial agent. This article delves into a study examining the in vitro antibacterial activity of jaloh leaf extract against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), shedding light on its possible health benefits.

Unlocking Jaloh's Antibacterial Potential: How Can It Combat Infections?

Protective shield of jaloh leaves against bacteria.

A recent study investigated the antibacterial properties of jaloh leaves by extracting their compounds using 96% ethanol. The resulting extract was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) using the Kirby-Bauer method, a standard technique for assessing antibacterial activity. Researchers analyzed the data to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), which indicates the lowest concentration of the extract needed to inhibit bacterial growth.

The study revealed that the ethanolic extract of jaloh leaves does indeed possess antibacterial activity against both SA and PA. However, the effectiveness varied. The extract showed a greater inhibitory effect against SA compared to PA, suggesting differences in bacterial susceptibility. Statistical analysis confirmed that different concentrations of the extract produced significant variations in the diameter of the inhibition zone, indicating a dose-dependent response.

The study's key findings include:

Antibacterial Activity: Jaloh leaf extract exhibited antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA).
Dose-Dependent Response: Higher concentrations of the extract resulted in larger inhibition zones, indicating a stronger antibacterial effect.
MIC Values: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for SA and PA were determined to be 4.5193 mg/mL and 6.6039 mg/mL, respectively.

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values obtained in this study suggest that the jaloh leaf extract has a weak antibacterial activity compared to more potent antibiotics. The MIC values for SA and PA were 4.5193 mg/mL and 6.6039 mg/mL, respectively. These values are relatively high, indicating that a substantial amount of the extract is needed to inhibit bacterial growth. While the extract does demonstrate some antibacterial properties, it is not as effective as conventional antibiotics, which typically have much lower MIC values.

Embracing Natural Solutions: What’s Next for Jaloh and Antibacterial Research?

While the ethanolic extract of jaloh leaves exhibits weak antibacterial activity, it represents a starting point for further exploration. Future research could focus on isolating and identifying the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed antibacterial effects. Understanding the mechanisms of action of these compounds could pave the way for developing more potent and targeted natural antibacterial agents. Additionally, combining jaloh extract with existing antibiotics may enhance their effectiveness and combat antibiotic resistance.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.22159/ajpcr.2018.v11s1.26580, Alternate LINK

Title: In Vitro Antibacterial Activity Of The Ethanolic Extract Of Jaloh (Salix Tetrasperma Roxb.) Leaves Against Staphylococcus Aureus And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Subject: Pharmacology (medical)

Journal: Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research

Publisher: Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd

Authors: Fitrah Wahyuni, Urip Harahap, Masfria Masfria

Published: 2018-04-26

Everything You Need To Know

Does the ethanolic extract from jaloh leaves actually kill bacteria, and against which specific types of bacteria is it effective?

The ethanolic extract from Salix tetrasperma (jaloh) leaves demonstrates antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Studies show that jaloh leaf extract has antibacterial properties, inhibiting the growth of these bacteria, although its effectiveness varies, being more potent against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). However, while promising, further research is needed to understand the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects.

How was the antibacterial activity of jaloh leaves tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the study?

The study utilized the Kirby-Bauer method to assess the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract from jaloh leaves against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). This method involves measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), which is the lowest concentration of the extract needed to inhibit bacterial growth. Researchers analyzed the diameter of the inhibition zone around the bacterial colonies to determine the effectiveness of different concentrations of the extract. This provides quantitative data on jaloh's antibacterial potential.

What do the MIC values of 4.5193 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus and 6.6039 mg/mL for Pseudomonas aeruginosa tell us about the strength of jaloh's antibacterial effect?

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the ethanolic extract from jaloh leaves against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) were determined to be 4.5193 mg/mL and 6.6039 mg/mL, respectively. These MIC values suggest that a relatively high concentration of jaloh leaf extract is needed to inhibit bacterial growth compared to conventional antibiotics. This indicates that, in its current form, the jaloh leaf extract has a weaker antibacterial activity.

Since the ethanolic extract from jaloh leaves exhibits weak antibacterial activity, what are the next steps for research and development?

While the ethanolic extract from jaloh leaves shows antibacterial activity, its potential lies in future research. Isolating and identifying the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed effects could lead to the development of more potent and targeted natural antibacterial agents. Furthermore, exploring combinations of jaloh extract with existing antibiotics could enhance their effectiveness and combat antibiotic resistance, addressing the growing concern of multiple drug-resistant bacteria.

Besides jaloh, what other plant-based compounds are being explored for their antibacterial properties, and why is this area of research important?

Plants like Salix tetrasperma (jaloh) produce secondary metabolites like saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which have demonstrated antibacterial properties. These compounds offer a multi-faceted approach to combating bacterial infections, potentially overcoming the limitations of traditional antibiotics and addressing the challenge of antibiotic resistance. Research into these natural alternatives is crucial in our efforts to discover new antibacterial agents.