LITERATURE REVIEW: AKTIVITAS ANTIMIKROBA DAUN SUNGKAI (Peronema canescens JACK.)

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms remain a global health problem, especially with the increasing cases of antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics. This condition has prompted efforts to search for alternative antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources. Sungkai (Peronema canescens Jack.) is one of Indonesia's medicinal plants that has traditionally been used in the treatment of infectious diseases. This article aims to systematically review the results of research related to the antimicrobial activity of sungkai leaves based on published studies. The method used in writing this article is a literature study of national and international scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025 through Google Scholar and PubMed. The results of the study show that sungkai leaf extract has antibacterial and antifungal activity against various pathogenic microorganisms, with varying levels of effectiveness based on the type of test microbe, testing method, and concentration of extract used. Antimicrobial activity is formed due to secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids. Based on these findings, sungkai leaves have the potential to be developed as a natural antimicrobial agent, although further research is needed to support its safety and clinical application.