1. Sartika Gunawan Putri
2. Sutriani Kaliu
3. Muhammad Syahruddin

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is classified as a superior commodity plant for Indonesian plantations. One of the largest cocoa-producing areas in Indonesia is Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. On cocoa plantations, a lot of waste is produced in the form of cocoa leaves because cocoa processing has focused on the fruit shell and seed, also trimming the shape to increase cocoa production. However, based on their compound, cocoa leaves have another potential that can have high economic value, as an antibacterial. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ethanol extract gel derived from cocoa leaves (Theobroma cacao L.) in combating acne-causing bacteria, namely Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The experimental approach involved testing various concentrations (25%, 30%, and 35%) of cocoa leaf extract incorporated into gel preparations using the agar well diffusion method. Positive control included 0.1% Gentamicin, while negative control comprised gel preparations lacking the extract. Cocoa leaves sourced from Kolaka Regency, specifically older leaves, were utilized in the study. Results demonstrated that the ethanol extract gel exhibited antibacterial properties against both bacteria. Optimal inhibition was observed at a 30% extract concentration, yielding inhibition zones measuring 13.25 ± 2.45mm and 12.49 ± 1.82mm against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively. These findings underscore the efficacy of cocoa leaf extract gel in inhibiting bacterial growth, thereby highlighting its potential as an antibacterial agent.