Publication: Effect of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) on human pathogenic bacteria: A systematic review
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Date
2017
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Publisher
American Scientific Publishers
Abstract
The beneficial effects of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) are attributed to their high nutritional content consisting of tannins, phenolic compounds, carbohydrate, oxidative enzymes, alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, and vitamins. These compounds also contribute to antibacterial activity. This systematic review aims to assess the evidence of antibacterial effects of the date fruits on human pathogenic bacteria. We performed a systematic literature search in Scopus, EMBASE and EBSCOhost until August 2016. In addition, we used Google Scholar and screened the references for additional studies. All published studies that tested only date fruits were included. Studies that used other parts of the date tree were excluded. In addition, only studies that specifically tested the antibacterial effects on human pathogenic bacteria were assessed. We also limited our systematic review on studies written in English language. We identified 14 studies that met all of the inclusion criteria. Out of 14 studies, only 6 studies showed antibacterial activity. In contrast, 2 studies did not show antibacterial activity and 7 studies showed mixed results. From all selected studies, methanol extract of the date fruits showed the highest inhibition zone compared to that of aqueous and other solvents. Date fruits extracts are also more sensitive against gram-positive bacteria compared to gram-negative bacteria. This systematic review has shown that antibacterial activity of date fruits has significant effects on human pathogenic bacteria. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. � 2017 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.
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Keywords
Antimicrobial activity, Date fruit, Human pathogen, Phoenix dactylifera, Prophetic food