Antibiofilm Efficacy of Butterfly Pea Flower Extract on Pathogens in Contact Lens-Related Infections

Abstract

Microorganisms cause Microbial Keratitis, an active inflammation of the cornea. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans are pathogenic microorganisms that frequently infect human eyes related to contact lens use. The biofilm can be controlled by utilizing phytochemical compounds from plants. One of the plants that contains phytochemical compounds and shows potential as an antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent is the butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L). This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L) as a potential antibiofilm agent in the degradation biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans that grow on contact lenses. The antibiofilm testing uses the Microtiter Plate Biofilm Assay method to determine the ability of microbes to grow on contact lenses and the degradation of biofilms with the addition of butterfly pea flower extract. Biofilms are examined by measuring optical density at 595 nm using a microplate Elisa reader. The results of the study show biofilm degradation on contact lenses by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (54.01%±0.046), Candida albicans (63.54%±0.093), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (45.27%±0.026). In conclusion, butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L) extract has high effectiveness as an antibiofilm agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans and moderate effectiveness against Staphylococcus epidermidis.