CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF JAVA']JAVANEESE PEPPER LEAVES (PIPER RETROFRACTUM VAHL.)

The leaves of Javaneese pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl.) has been proven efficacious as antimicrobial agent, however, there was no further information about action mechanism of antibacterial of Javaneese pepper leaves essential oil. This study was to determine the effect of essential oils of javaneese pepper leaves against bacterial sensitive test and is focused on investigating the damage of cell membranes of bacteria through the analysis of proteins, nucleic acids and metal ions, calcium and potassium. Steam distillation of essential oil from fresh leaves of Javaneese pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl.) gave 0.03 % yellowish viscous liquid. Germacrene D (24.20 %), tetramethylcyclo[5.3.1.0(4.11)]undec-8-ene (17.73 %), Ar-turmeron (11.55 %) and benzyl benzoate (6.28 %) were identified as major constituents analyzed by GC-MS. Javaneese pepper essential oil was active against pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus with diameter of clear zone of 8.0, 9.7 and 8.5 mm respectively. Further investigation showed MIC value of the oil against B. subtilis was 2 % (v/v), and was also alter the cell morphology of tested bacterium observed by SEM.