Background: Musa ornata, commonly known as the flowering banana, is an ornamental species with potential medicinal properties. Although various Musa species have demonstrated antimicrobial activity, limited studies exist on the bioactive potential of M. ornata. This study evaluates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Musa ornata stem ethanolic extract against selected bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Methods: The antimicrobial activity of Musa ornata stem extract was assessed using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The extract was tested at concentrations of 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL, with Ampicillin and Ketoconazole as positive controls and DMSO as the negative control. Phytochemical analysis was performed to identify bioactive constituents responsible for antimicrobial activity.

Results: The extract exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect against bacterial and fungal strains. Gram-positive bacteria showed greater susceptibility than Gram-negative bacteria, while C. albicans demonstrated higher sensitivity than A. niger. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids, which are known for their antimicrobial properties.