Abstract

The crude methanol, acetone and water extracts of leaves and pits of three varieties ofPhoenix dactylifera were tested for antibacterial action against selected Gram positive and Gram negative pathogenic bacteria. Barring Enterococcus faecalis, the acetone and methanol extracts showed good antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexeneri, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes, whereas the water extract had very little effect on all test bacterial species and there was almost negligible effect on P. aeruginosa. Pits extracts of all three varieties of P. dactylifera were found to be more effective than leaves extracts. Results clearly showed that S.pyogenes was most sensitive pathogen to the crude extracts and had shown maximum zone of inhibition. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for S. pyogenes was found to be 1.3, 1.1, 1.6 and 1.4 mg/ml for methanol leaves and pits extracts and acetone leaves and pits extracts, respectively.

Key words: Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L, antibacterial, crude extracts.