<![CDATA[Dermatophyte infection is one of the most common skin health problems in tropical countries such as Indonesia, with Trichophyton rubrum being the primary causative agent of dermatophytosis affecting skin tissues. Continuous use of synthetic antifungal drugs may cause adverse effects and increase the risk of antifungal resistance, highlighting the need for natural antifungal alternatives. Sappan wood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) contains bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, brazilin, alkaloids, tannins, and terpenoids, which have potential antifungal properties. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sappan wood extract in inhibiting the growth of Trichophyton rubrum. This in vitro experimental study employed the disk diffusion method on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA), which was selected because it is a simple and widely used preliminary screening method for evaluating antifungal activity based on the formation of inhibition zones around the test disks. The study was conducted at the Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Health Polytechnic of the Ministry of Health Surabaya, in February 2026. Ethanolic extract of sappan wood was obtained through maceration using 96% ethanol and tested at concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, with 2% ketoconazole as the positive control and sterile distilled water as the negative control, each performed in four replicates. The results showed that all concentrations of sappan wood extract failed to produce inhibition zones against Trichophyton rubrum, whereas the positive control produced a mean inhibition zone diameter of 20 mm and the negative control showed no inhibition zone. It can be concluded that sappan wood extract at concentrations of 20%–100% was not effective in inhibiting the growth of Trichophyton rubrum using the disk diffusion method. ABSTRAK Infeksi jamur dermatofita merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan kulit yang banyak dijumpai di negara beriklim tropis seperti Indonesia, dengan Trichophyton rubrum sebagai penyebab dermatofitosis yang paling sering menyerang jaringan kulit. Penggunaan obat antijamur sintetik secara terus-menerus berisiko menimbulkan efek samping dan resistensi, sehingga diperlukan alternatif antijamur berbahan alami. Kayu secang (Caesalpinia sappan L.) diketahui mengandung senyawa aktif seperti flavonoid, brazilin, alkaloid, tanin, dan terpenoid yang berpotensi sebagai antijamur. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui efektivitas ekstrak kayu secang dalam menghambat pertumbuhan jamur Trichophyton rubrum. Penelitian bersifat eksperimental in vitro menggunakan metode difusi cakram pada media Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA), yang dipilih karena merupakan metode sederhana dan umum digunakan sebagai uji awal (screening) untuk mengevaluasi aktivitas antijamur berdasarkan pembentukan zona hambat di sekitar cakram uji. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Parasitologi Jurusan Teknologi Laboratorium Medis Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya pada Februari 2026. Ekstrak etanol kayu secang diperoleh melalui metode maserasi menggunakan pelarut etanol 96% dan diuji pada konsentrasi 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, dan 100%, dengan ketokonazol 2% sebagai kontrol positif dan akuades steril sebagai kontrol negatif, masing-masing diulang empat kali. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa seluruh konsentrasi ekstrak kayu secang tidak menghasilkan zona hambat terhadap pertumbuhan Trichophyton rubrum, sedangkan kontrol positif menghasilkan zona hambat dengan diameter rata-rata 20 mm dan kontrol negatif tidak menunjukkan zona hambat. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, disimpulkan bahwa ekstrak kayu secang pada konsentrasi 20%–100% tidak efektif menghambat pertumbuhan jamur Trichophyton rubrum dengan metode difusi cakram.]]>
