Abstract:
Palm wine is an alcoholic drink obtained by the natural fermentation of the sap of palm trees. Palm wine samples were collected overnight from two palm trees (Raphia vinifera and Elaeis guineensis). They were assayed for antibacterial activity on Salmonella typhi isolated from different sources using standard microbiological assays. Furthermore, the microorganisms isolated from the wines were also assayed for growth inhibitory activity on the isolated S. typhi using the same methods. The therapeutic potentials of the wines in wistar albino rats infected with the pre-determined infective dose of S. typhi was evaluated by monitoring the faecal shedding of S. typhi in the infected rats and recovery rate. The immunostimulatory potential of palm wine on the other hand was assayed by feeding apparently healthy albino rats with palm wine over a period of 21 days and quantifying the population of immune cells at 7 days’ interval. Palm wine from both R. vinifera and E. guineensis palm trees inhibited all S. typhi isolates used, with diameter zones of inhibition ranging from 26.67±0.33 to 44.33±0.57 mm and 24.33±0.57 to 44.00±0.67 mm respectively. The growth inhibition exerted by the wine from both palm trees was found to be higher to that of all the conventional antibiotics (Chloramphenicol, Amoxycillin, Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin) used. The microorganisms isolated from the palm wines researched on are Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus roseus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Streptococcus lactis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Saccharomyces cerevisae. All these isolated organisms also had growth inhibitory effect on all the S. typhi isolates used with L. brevis having the highest effect. Faecal shedding of S. typhi by the infected rats treated with palm wine decreased with increase in the days of treatment. Packed cell volume, total and differential white blood cell count increased significantly (p≤0.05) within the 21 days of this study. It is conceivable therefore that palm wine could be used to treat infection caused by S. typhi, that is, typhoid fever in infected individuals.
