Bacteriocidal Activities of Palm Kernel Oil on Selected Bacteria Species

ABSTRACT The palm tree is arguably the richest tree on earth when it comes to natural endowments. it is blessed with a lot of priceless resources, which among them is the palm kernel oil. Palm kernel oil is extracted from palm fruit. It is dark black in color and distinguishes itself with a unique strong taste and smell. The aims of this research are to produce palm kernel oil, to investigate the antimicrobial effects of hygienic palm kernel oil against selected microorganisms and t determine the sensitivity of the palm kernel oil against selected microorganisms. The result of this study shows that palm kernel oil is not a very active antimicrobial agent as the zone or inhibition observed were minimal in some of the isolates and absent in others. The palm kernel oil had the highest effect of 2.Omm on Staphylococcus areas. The remaining isolates; Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp. and Strepio coccus sp. we’re not sensitive to palm kernel oil and as such showed no zone of inhibition. The bacteria, Staphylococcus aurous which can cause boils and infections of wounds, were inhibited minimally by palm kernel oil. Although this antimicrobial effect observed is low. This study has been able to show that the traditionally extracted palm kernel oil; a black viscous non-drying liquid, derived from the kernel nut of oil palm showed minimal antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aurous which had relatively higher antimicrobial activities, while Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. Bacillus sp., and Streptococcus sp. had no zone of inhibition. Compared to standard antibiotic presently in circulation, palm kernel oil has no reasonable antimicrobial activity as such further study should be carried out to prove or debunk certain claims by our parents on how palm kernel oil can cure some diseases. The topical use of palm kernel oil for skin treatment is highly recommended as this cannot result in resistant strains. Further study should be carried out on the phytochemicals present in palm kernel oil and the effect of these phytochemicals on microorganisms.