In vitro Evaluation of the Antiviral Activity of an Extract of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Pits on a Pseudomonas Phage

A crude acetone extract of the pit of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) was prepared and its antiviral activity evaluated against lytic Pseudomonas phage ATCC 14209-B1, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 25668 as the host cell. The antiviral activity of date pits was found to be mediated by binding to the phage, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of <10 μg ml(-1). The decimal reduction time (D-values), the concentration exponent (η) and the phage inactivation kinetics were determined. The date pit extracts show a strong ability to inhibit the infectivity of Pseudomonas phage ATCC 14209-B1 and completely prevented bacterial lysis, which it is hoped will promote research into its potential as a novel antiviral agent against pathogenic human viruses.