DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2018.v06i02.009

Pages: 179-183

Acne vulgaris has been a skin disease that is caused by excessive oil on the skin that gives an optimal environment for acne-causing skin microbes, including Propionibacterium acnes. Sugar palm fruit (Arenga pinnata) has the potential for acne treatment due to its bioactive compounds that have been reported for exerting anti-inflammation and antioxidant activities. This research was focused on investigation of antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of sugar palm fruit extract (SPFE) for management of acne caused by P. acnes. Sugar palm fruit was extracted in methanol to produce SPFE and the chemical compounds of SPFE were identified by using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS). Bioefficacy of SPFE as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents was tested on inhibiting P. acnes growth, eradicating the existed P. acnes biofilms, and preventing P. acnes biofilm formation in vitro. Chromatographic profiling by py-GC/MS showed that SPFE consisted of major compounds, including levoglucosan and methyl-β-D-glucoside as pyran group. SPFE at 16 µg/mL effectively inhibited ~40% of P. acnes growth. For antibiofilm effect, SPFE was more effective for eradication effect on existed P. acnes biofilm compared to that of preventive effect on P. acnes biofilm formation. At 100 µg/mL, SPFE removed up to 50% of the existed P. acnes biofilms. Thus, SPFE may offer alternative candidate to treat acne vulgaris caused by P. acnes by inhibiting its growth and removing its existed biofilms.