Antibacterial activity of Citrus hystrix toward Salmonella spp. infection

Introduction: Citrus hystrix is widely used by Indonesians as a traditional medicine for gastrointestinal diseases, including Salmonella spp. infection. We investigated the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic peel extract of C. hystrix against Salmonella typhimurium. Methods: The antibacterial activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was determined at a concentration of 0.625% by agar dilution assay. Later, the in vivo antibacterial activity was examined by the administration of 16 mg of the extract daily for three consecutive days in a mouse model infected with S. typhimurium. Results: The bacterial loads of S. typhimurium in the ileum, liver, and spleen decreased after 24 h of administration of the extract (p = 0.00008, p = 0.00084, and p = 0.00003, respectively). Conclusion: The ethanolic peel extract of C. hystrix shows antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium, indicating the potential of C. hystrix as an effective treatment for Salmonella spp. infection.