Evaluation of Some Active Components of Palm Leaves (phoenix dactylifera) Ethanol and Aqueous Extracts and Study of Their Biological Effects

Abstract

Introduction: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) leaves are a widely available natural resource in Libya. Previous studies have demonstrated that various parts of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) contain bioactive secondary metabolites with potential therapeutic applications, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Aims: This study investigated the bioactive secondary metabolites present in three commonly cultivated date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) leaf varieties in Libya: Tabuni, Hamuri, and Ammi. The aim was to conduct a phytochemical screening and evaluate the antibacterial activity of selected Libyan date palm leaf extracts.

Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed to identify the active constituents in the palm leaves. This was followed by quantitative assessment of specific compounds (moisture and Ash content) and evaluation of their biological efficacy against bacterial isolates including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the zone of inhibition method.

Results: Qualitative phytochemical analysis of ethanol and aqueous extracts showed that the leaves are rich in active compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenes, and terpenoids, while resins and alkaloids were not found in any of the dissolving extracts. The study also found that the leaves contained a moderate percentage of moisture and ash. The highest moisture percentage was recorded in Ammi leaves (9.96%), which is very close to Hamuri leaves (9.03%). On the other hand, the lowest percentage was recorded in Tabuni leaves at 6.45%. The highest ash content was found in Ammi leaves at 5.9% and the lowest in Tabuni leaves at 3.825%. Hamuri leaves had an ash content of 4.7%. The alcoholic extract of palm leaves showed good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus at all concentrations, with the largest growth inhibitory zones observed at a concentration of 100 mg/ml for all samples. The only exception was related to the Tabuni extract at the concentration of 12.5 mg/ml. In contrast, the results showed insensitivity of Escherichia coli to the extracts of the study.

Conclusion: Palm leaf extracts show antibacterial activity; more studies are needed to quantify this activity. The Hamuri and Ammi extracts demonstrated superior antibacterial activity compared to Tabuni, especially against Staphylococcus aureus, with phytochemical richness varying among varieties. The lack of activity against Escherichia coli is consistent with the greater resistance of Gram-negative bacteria due to their outer membrane structure.