Effects of Methanol and N-hexane Extracts of Raphia vinifera Fruit and Elaeis guineensis Seeds Against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of methanol and n-hexane extracts derived from the mesocarp of Raphia vinifera fruit and Elaeis guineensis seeds on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. The antibacterial properties of methanol and n-hexane extracts of Raphia vinifera fruit mesocarp and palm kernel seeds against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were evaluated using the agar-well diffusion method. The average diameter of the areas where growth was inhibited by the n-hexane extract of palm kernel seed and Raphia vinifera fruit mesocarp was 15 mm and 9 mm, respectively, for S. aureus. The diameter of the inhibition zone for Staphylococcus aureus was 11 mm for the Elaeis guineensis seeds extract and 8 mm for the Raphia vinifera fruit mesocarp extract for S. Aureus. The n-hexane extract of Elaeis guineensis seeds and Raphia vinifera fruit mesocarp showed inhibition zones with mean diameters of 15 mm and 12 mm, respectively, for Escherichia coli. Similarly, the methanol extract of Elaeis guineensis seeds and Raphia vinifera fruit mesocarp exhibited inhibition zones with mean diameters of 5 mm and 9 mm, respectively, for Escherichia coli. Among the solvents utilised for extraction in this work, n-hexane demonstrates the highest antibacterial efficacy compared to methanol extracts against all test species, including S. aureus and E. coli. Thus, both Elaeis guineensis seeds and Raphia vinifera fruit mesocarp have the potential to serve as alternate antibacterial agents and significant reservoirs of medicinal compounds for treating diverse illnesses.