Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Punica granatum peel against the enteric pathogens: An invitro study

Punica granatum (pomegranate) is commonly used in India as a traditional medicine for the treatment of pathogenic bacteria. The present study investigates the antibacterial activity of Pomegranate rind extracts (alcoholic and aqueous) against various enteric pathogens. Both Standard strains and clinical isolates of Vibrio cholerae, Entero toxigenic E. coli, Entero pathogenic E. coli, Entero aggregative E.coli, Salmonella and Shigella species along with few strains of Candida were used in the study . Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed following standard procedure (Kirby-Bauer’s diffusion method) by the punch well technique. The results obtained were encouraging as the ethanolic extract showed greater zones of inhibition against the various enteric pathogens tested in comparison with the aqueous extract. Most significant inhibitory effect was seen against Shigella flexneri and Aeromonas hydrophila.

Author(s): Vasudha Pai, Thangjam Rubee Chanu, Rituparna Chakraborty , Bangar Raju, Richard Lobo and Mamatha Ballal*

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