ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL USE AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF TRADITIONAL DATE VINEGAR OF GHARDAÏA

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate the therapeutic advantage of traditional date vinegar. We carried out an ethno-pharmacological survey on the therapeutic use of date vinegar by the population of Ghardaïa. After we verified the quality of two vinegars made from Deglet-Nour and Temjouhart date varieties, we tested their antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. These microorganisms are involved in skin infections treated with date vinegar. The ethno-pharmacological survey showed that the traditional date vinegar is used in the treatment of 30 afflictions. The treatment seems to be effective (75% of only positive effects compared to 14% of positive and also adverse effects). The antimicrobial activity was present, in spite of the weak concentration of acetic acid in the tested vinegars. The highest antimicrobial effect was observed on S. aureus. The inhibition diameter of this microorganism was 49 mm in Deglet-Nour vinegar and 33 mm in Temjouhart vinegar. In conclusion, date vinegar is used by the population of Ghardaïa to treat various illnesses and it was proven that it is effective in the treatment of skin infections caused by microorganisms mentioned previously.