Antimicrobial Properties and Phytochemical Analysis of Salacca Zalacca (Gaertner Voss) Fruit Extracts

-, Kelvin (2018) Antimicrobial Properties and Phytochemical Analysis of Salacca Zalacca (Gaertner Voss) Fruit Extracts. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Snake fruit or Salacca zalacca is a fruit unique to mostly South-East Asian countries. This fruit is said to be able to suppress diarrhea and at the same time can cause constipation if consumed too much. Other than that, people believe consuming the fruit without peeling of the thin layer on the flesh will reduce the risk of constipation. The objectives of this research are to study the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical properties of the fruits in relieving diarrhea as well as potentially cause constipation. The fruits were processed and extracted using freeze-drying and maceration technique. Two analyses were done on three parts of the fruit including antimicrobial activity and phytochemical test. Four types of bacteria were selected as the diarrhea-causing pathogens, namely Bacillus spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial activity was measured as zone of inhibition indicating the ability of the fruit to inhibit the diarrhea-causing pathogens. Whereas, analysis of selected phytochemical was done to identify the component that responsible for this phenomenon. As the results, no zone of inhibition was observed for any of the bacteria tested. Possible explanations are the concentration of the extracts used were not high enough to exhibit the antimicrobial properties or the extraction method was not best suited for the sample. While, total phenolics content obtained were 138.9±4.401, 131.9±2.993, and 135.7±1.939 mg GAE/100 g sample for skin, flesh with thin layer, and flesh without thin layer, respectively. Total flavonoids content obtained were 122.1±6.658, 66.7±1.528, and 66.1±3.055 mg QE/100 g sample for skin, flesh with thin layer, and flesh without thin layer, respectively. Total tannins content obtained were 379.4±9.998, 334.0±14.148, and 321.0±5.291 mg GAE/100 g sample for skin, flesh with thin layer, and flesh without thin layer, respectively. The results indicate that the fruits contain significantly high amount of tannins. This proves the fruits have the potential to suppress diarrhea and cause constipation since tannins stimulate muscle contraction in our body including secretion area. In contrast, removing the thin layer from the flesh exhibit no significant differences in phytochemical content. Other than that, phytochemical content of the skin part is significantly high, it means the skin also possess benefits although it cannot be consumed raw.