Bioactivity of Phoenix dactylifera seed and its phytochemical analysis

Abstract

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the anticancer and antibacterial activity of date seeds and its phytochemical composition. Materials and Methods: Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed using date seed powder using biochemical assays. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed to identify the phytochemical contents in the extract. MTT assay was carried out to study the cytotoxicity of the seed extracts against HCT-15 (human coloretal cancer) cells. Antibacterial activity was studied using agar well diffusion method, against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Results: GC-MS analysis of acetone and chloroform extract of date seeds suggests that acetone extract contains majorly of aliphatic molecules and chloroform extract contains aromatic molecules. Cytotoxicity study showed that acetone extract is highly cytotoxic with inhibitor concentration 50 (IC50) value at 20 μg/ml and chloroform extract is moderately cytotoxic with IC50 value at 100 μg/ml concentration against HCT-15 cells. Antibacterial study showed that chloroform extract had no antagonistic activity against bacteria, whereas acetone extract demonstrated significant antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition of 17 mm and 20 mm against B. cereus and E. coli, respectively at 1 mg/ml concentration. Conclusion: Results of this study conclude that acetone extract of date seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L) contains significant potential for pharmaceutical applications, in the field of antibacterial and anticancer drug discovery.