THE EFFICACY OF DATE FRUITS (Phoenix dactylifera) EXTRACTS ON SOME CLINICAL ISOLATES

Abstract

Date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) are an excellent source of vitamin C and dietary fibers. They also supply vitamin A and B, different minerals and various amino acids. The antioxidants present in dates can also aid in lowering the risk of cancer and cardiovascular conditions, while ensuring a healthy immune system. In this study, the antibacterial activity of ethanol and methanol extract of Phoenix dactylifera fruits against selected clinical isolates; Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae was examined. Date fruit were collected and extracted by maceration and the antibacterial activity was determined by agar well diffusion and tube dilution methods. Both extracts were found to be effective in inhibiting the growth of test bacteria in a concentration dependent manner, with the highest activity against S. dysentariae (19.30 + 0.24mg/ml) and E. coli (10.00 + 0.00mg/ml) at 150mg/ml while no activity was recorded at 40mg/ml. Methanol extract at all concentration has no activity against K. pneumoniae. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) results revealed that the ethanol and methanol extracts of P. dactylifera has bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against S. typhi, S. dysenteriae, E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Further pharmacological investigation is recommended.