ASSESSMENT OF NEPHELIUM LAPPACEUM PEEL EXTRACT AS A POTENTIAL PRIMARY STAIN FOR GRAM STAINING IN BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION

Abstract

The study determines the potential of Nephelium lappaceum peel extract as an alternative to the standard Crystal violet in bacterial identification. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design to assess the staining efficacy of Nephelium lappaceum peel extract. Conventional ethanolic extraction is the method for obtaining the rambutan peel extract. The extract was then turned into a powdered form and portioned to produce concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 75%. The staining process employed was the same as the routine gram staining procedure. The stained specimens were then examined under a light microscope and photos were taken. The photos were subjected to RGB analysis using Adobe Photoshop software. Findings revealed that all dependent variables exhibit significant differences among the groups, as indicated by the provided F-values and significance levels (p = 0.0001425, below the 0.05 threshold)The 75% concentration of Nephelium lappaceum peel extract was the most effective, producing a color closely resembling standard Crystal Violet. This suggests its potential as an alternative primary stain in Gram staining. However, the rambutan peel stain did not effectively stain all Gram-positive bacteria across all tested concentrations. Therefore, to increase the yield of anthocyanins, it is recommended to explore non-conventional extraction methods.