Antimicrobial Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Musa acuminata Colla. Roots Against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger

Bacterial and fungal infections remain a major health problem due to the increasing resistance of microorganisms to synthetic antimicrobial agents, highlighting the need for alternative natural antimicrobial sources. The roots of muli banana (Musa acuminata Colla.) are known to contain bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to identify the secondary metabolites and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate extract of muli banana roots against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. This laboratory experimental study employed the well diffusion method using five extract concentrations with four replications (n = 4). Antibacterial and anti-Candida activities were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test, while antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger was analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and triterpenoids. The ethyl acetate extract of muli banana roots significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (p < 0.001), Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.001), and Candida albicans (p < 0.001). The highest inhibitory activity was observed at 100% concentration, producing mean inhibition zone diameters of 4.42 mm against Escherichia coli, 12.96 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, and 9.60 mm against Candida albicans. In contrast, the extract did not inhibit the growth of Aspergillus niger at all tested concentrations. These findings suggest that the ethyl acetate extract of muli banana roots has the potential to be developed as a natural source for antibacterial and antifungal products.