Ecoliminate: Assessing the Antimicrobial Effects of Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) and Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) Against Escherichia Coli

Escherichia coli contributes to global health challenges, causing various diseases in different places globally. Studies on plant extracts, like malunggay, turmeric, and garlic, show varying inhibitory effects on E. coli. Research highlights their potential as alternative antibiotics, with moderate success, though results vary. This underscores the need for enhanced public health strategies and research into natural antimicrobial agents to address E. coli-related infection. This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) extracts using a true experimental quantitative posttest-only design to assess bacterial growth after exposure to different concentrations of malunggay and turmeric extracts with the agar well diffusion method. This design effectively tested the hypotheses and analyzed the relationship between variables. Three different extract concentrations were tested, including 25 mL malunggay and 75 mL turmeric, 50 mL malunggay and 50 mL turmeric, and 75 mL malunggay and 25 mL turmeric. Among these, the 50 mL malunggay and 50 mL turmeric extract exhibited the highest inhibition zone, indicating the strongest antimicrobial activity. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among the treatments, identifying this formulation as the most promising alternative. These findings suggest that optimizing malunggay-turmeric formulations could enhance their antimicrobial potential, providing a natural approach to combating antibiotic-resistant E. coli.