Bioprospecting of Fragrant Ginger (Zingiber aromaticum) Endophytic Bacteria from Enggano Island, Indonesia as Antimicrobial Compounds Producer

Abstract

Fragrant Ginger or Lempuyang wangi (Zingiber aromaticum Val.) is one of the plants from the Zingiberaceae family that Indonesians widely use as traditional medicine. Endophytic bacteria living in the healthy plant are potentially carrying antimicrobial properties and good secondary metabolites. This study aims to determine the potential of endophytic bacteria from fragrant ginger plants from Enggano Island as antimicrobial. Antimicrobial activity was analyzed using the disc diffusion method from pallets and supernatant of bacteria. The results showed that five of 44 isolates consisting of Providencia strain LWERG 29, Stenotrophomonas strain LWERG 30, Bacillus strain LWEBG 39, Bacillus strain LWEBG 41, and Pseudomonas strain LWEBG 42 isolates were able to suppress pathogenic bacteria such as B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. Interestingly, those selected species could show their ability to inhibit tested pathogens with a strong category. This is the first study that showed the potential of endophytic bacteria as antimicrobial agents isolated from fragrant ginger (Lempuyang Wangi) in Enggano Island, Indonesia.