Antibacterial Potential of Palm Wine (Raphia hookeri G. Mann & H. Wendl) against Common Diarrhoeagenic Bacteria

Background and Objective: Diarrhoeagenic bacteria are major causes of bacterial diarrhoea, particularly affecting children under five and the elderly in developing countries. Rising antibiotic resistance among these pathogens necessitates alternative therapies. This study investigated the antibacterial potential of palm wine, a locally fermented drink, against common diarrhoeagenic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Salmonella typhi. Materials and Methods: An in vitro agar well diffusion assay was used to evaluate the growth-inhibitory effects of freshly tapped and fermented palm wine samples on the test bacteria. The antibiogram profiles of the pathogens, physicochemical properties, and microbial composition of the palm wine were determined using standard methods. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess significance at p<0.05. Results: Both fresh and fermented palm wine exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all tested diarrhoeagenic bacteria, with inhibition zones ranging from 7.2 to 23.6 mm. The activity was greater than that of several antibiotics in the antibiogram assay, except for ciprofloxacin. Escherichia coli and S. dysenteriae were more susceptible than S. typhi. The pH of palm wine ranged from 3.08 to 5.58 over a 7-day fermentation period. Microbial analysis revealed seven bacterial species, including Micrococcus sp., Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus lactis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis, and six fungal species, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Neurospora crassa. Conclusion: Palm wine demonstrates promising antibacterial activity against common diarrhoeagenic bacteria and may serve as a natural alternative for managing bacterial diarrhoea. Further research is warranted to isolate active compounds and evaluate their therapeutic potential.