Pemanfaatan Ekstrak Gedi (Abelmoschus manihot ) Dan Kirinyuh (Chromolaena odorata) sebagai Bahan Aktif Antimikroba Dalam Pembuatan Hand Sanitizer

Abstract

Infection remains a major public health concern in developing countries, including Indonesia. Microorganisms easily adhere to the hands through daily environmental contact, making the use of hand sanitizers an essential preventive measure. Although alcohol-based formulations are effective antimicrobial agents, frequent use may cause skin irritation. Therefore, natural compounds derived from traditional medicinal plants offer a safer alternative. Abelmoschus manihot L. (gedi) and Chromolaena odorata L. (kirinyuh) contain bioactive metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and saponins with known antimicrobial properties. This study formulated hand sanitizers using extracts from both plants and evaluated their activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Malassezia furfur. Organoleptic assessment indicated that the preparations were liquid, with F1 (kirinyuh extract) exhibiting a green color and F2 (gedi extract) a yellowish-green color, and both were non-sticky and produced a cooling sensation. Antimicrobial testing revealed that F1 generated the largest inhibition zones against E. coli (21.19 mm) and M. furfur (26.20 mm), while F2 showed the highest activity against S. epidermidis (10.57 mm) and M. furfur (19.38 mm). However, the strong natural odor of the extracts remains a limitation, indicating the need for added fragrance to enhance product acceptability.