<![CDATA[The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, compounded by the adverse effects of prolonged antibiotic regimens and surging healthcare costs, has driven the search for naturally derived alternative therapeutics. Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd., locally recognized as white galangal, occupies a central role in Indonesian ethnomedicine and culinary practices, making it a highly relevant subject for pharmacological screening. This study sought to evaluate the inhibitory capacity of A. galanga rhizome aqueous extracts against the clinical pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Disk diffusion assays performed at four concentration gradients (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) demonstrated a clear dose-dependent antibacterial profile. For S. aureus, the resulting inhibition zone diameters were 7.36, 8.31, 8.93, and 9.94 mm, respectively. Parallel testing against E. coli yielded corresponding inhibition zones of 7.35, 8.07, 8.73, and 9.80 mm across the same concentrations. This investigation highlights the practical relevance of aqueous-based extraction, which accurately reflects traditional preparation methods, thereby validating its ethnopharmacological application. The empirical evidence confirms the extract's efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Such robust inhibitory activity not only reinforces its potential as a natural therapeutic agent but also establishes a scientific basis for its sustained use within traditional medicine frameworks.]]>
