Research Article

Enhancing the Antibacterial Efficacy of Dishwashing Detergents Using Myrtus communis L. Leaf Extract

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the increase in the antibacterial activity of dishwashing detergents with the addition of the leaf extract of Myrtus communis L. Methods: The screening of antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was done by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: The results revealed that the extract of M. communis at 25 mg/ml exhibited a good inhibitory effect against all the species of bacteria tested, but the lowest concentration of detergent that showed a significant inhibitory effect was 0.78 mg/ml. The synergetic effect of 25 mg/ml of plant extract and 0.78 mg/ml detergent created the largest inhibition zones of all the tested bacteria. These results suggest that M. communis L. could develop into a natural product that would increase the antimicrobial effectiveness of dishwashing detergents as an alternative and effective method of preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria as part of domestic and industrial hygiene management.