Antibacterial Activity of Fresh Palm Fruit (Veitichia merillii) against Propionibacterium acnes Bacteria

Antibiotics or antimicrobials are a group of compounds, both natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic, which have the property of killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The infection studied in this research is a skin infection caused by the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Several studies have examined the bioactivity potential of palm plant parts such as the toxicity of palm fruit seeds to Artemia salina larvae. but there is no data regarding the antimicrobial potential of the palm fruit itself. The novelty of this study lies in the maturity phase of the simplicia or fruit used, namely ripe, half-riped and unripe palm fruit and the type of pathogenic bacteria that was inhibited, namely Propionibacterium acnes which was carried out in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine whether palm fruit has antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes and the ripening phase of the fruit has the highest antimicrobial activity. The research method used is laboratory experimental research. Antibacterial activity test of palm fruit against bacteria was carried out in vitro using the disc method with an activity indicator in the form of the diameter of the inhibition zone. Fresh palm fruit (Veitichia merillii) juice has antibacterial activity against the acne-causing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, but has a different level of inhibition when viewed from the level of maturity. The highest antibacterial activity based on research results was observed at the ripeness level (yellow/orange color) which was indicated by the width of the inhibition zone of 23.9 mm.