Antibacterial Activity of Lumbricus Rubellus Earthworm Extract Against Porphyromonas Gingivalis as the Bacterial Cause of Periodontitis

Abstract AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of Lumbricus rubellus earthworms through inhibitory zone diameter to the growth of the bacterium Phorphyromonas gingivalis as the cause of periodontitis. METHODS: This was an experimental study with randomised posttest-only control group design. The study was conducted at the Microbiology Research Center laboratory at the Faculty of Dentistry, Airlangga University, Indonesia. The study was conducted in vitro, the sample size was calculated using the Federer formula as many as four agar plates containing bacteria Phorphyromonas gingivalis, with each plate given five different treatments: control (ethanol), Lumbricus rubellus earthworm extract (ECT) with concentrations of 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 6.25% respectively. The data in the form of inhibition zone diameter (measured in millimetres) obtained were tested using One-Way ANOVA. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the inhibitory zone extract of Lumbricus rubellus earthworm on the growth of Phorphyromonas gingivalis bacteria in the treatment group had significant differences (p < 0.05). The mean inhibition zones between controls and the ECT treatment group (ECT 50%, ECT 25%, ECT 12.5%) were statistically different (p < 0.05), in contrast with ECT 6.25% (p > 0.05) which did not show significant difference with the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lumbricus rubellus earthworm extract with a concentration of 50% has the largest diameter of the inhibitory zone on the growth of the Phorphyromonas gingivalis bacteria. The 6.25% earthworm extract showed no antibacterial activity against the growth of Phorphyromonas gingivalis bacteria.