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Date syrup contains antibacterial compounds
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Date syrup may have bacteriostatic and bactericidal qualities equal to or exceeding that previously observed in manuka honey, according to data presented at the General Microbiology Annual Conference 2015.
In part of a larger study to examine the health benefits of date syrup, researchers from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, U.K., investigated its antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. Susceptibility tests were performed to identify bioactive constituents contributing to these benefits, the results of which were subsequently compared to those of manuka honey, another natural substance previously shown to have antibacterial qualities.
The date syrup exhibited both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity in vitro against the tested bacteria, most notably demonstrating an average minimum inhibitory concentration of 30% against S. epidermidis. While these results were comparable to manuka honey, date syrup required less time to inhibit growth of the four pathogens.
“While this work is currently in vitro, it suggests that date syrup could exhibit health benefits through its antibacterial activities [which are] similar, or in some cases, better than honey,” Ara D. Kanekanian, PhD, of Cardiff Metropolitan University, said in a press release. “At this stage, this has mainly been attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. However, until further research is undertaken, we caution people against using the syrup to treat wounds.”
Reference:
Taleb H, et al. Abstract S02/55. Presented at: The Society for General Microbiology Annual Conference 2015; March 30 to April 2; Birmingham, U.K.
Disclosure: Infectious Disease News could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.