Antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit skin

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Microbiology and Virology Research Center, Avicenna Research institute & Department of Medical Bacteriology & Virology, Ghaem Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

2 Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

3 Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

4 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Objective: Punica granatum, commonly known as pomegranate, has emerged as a medicinal plant with potential antimicrobial activity. The present study was planned to evaluate this activity against both Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) bacteria as well as against pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans (C. albicans).
Material and Methods: The aqueous and methanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit skin were prepared using a Soxhalet apparatus. Antimicrobial effect of the extracts was studied and compared with commercial antibiotics using three different methods; agar dilution, cylinder plate, and disk inhibition zone techniques.
Results: Both extracts showed good antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Also the methanolic extract presented strong antifungal effect on C. albicans. The antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans were comparable with those of cloxacillin, gentamycin and clotrimazole, respectively. The methanolic extract was found to be more effective than aqueous one against all the tested microorganisms.
Conclusion: The extracts from pomegranate fruit skin possess strong antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. Therefore this plant could be an important source of new antimicrobial compounds to treat bacterial and fungal infections.

Keywords

Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
September and October 2011
Pages 67-73

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