The study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of extracts from spathe (date palm) against
Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923 and 29213), Staphylococcus saprophyticus
ATCC 15305, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ATCC 13076, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Results of the agar diffusion assay indicated that the 80% methanolic
extract of spathe (ME) was the most active sample against test pathogens, compared to water or
petroleum ether extracts. The inhibition zones produced by ME were 11–31mm against the test bacteria.
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), determined by the agar dilution method of ME against
gram positive bacteria was 1.5 mg/ml. MIC of ME for gram negative bacteria was 3 mg/ml. Preliminary
phytochemical tests revealed that ME contained phenolics and flavonoids. The Folin–Ciocalteu method
showed that total phenolics (265.7mg Gallic acid equivalent/g) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in ME
than other extracts. Total antioxidant capacity (phosphomolybdenum method) of ME was 530g ascorbic
acid equivalent/g. It could be summarized that spathe contains active phytochemicals which may find
applications in the food industry and pharmaceuticals.