Abstract

The antibacterial activities of different extracts (water, 80% methanol and 80% ethanol, acetone, ether and chloroform) of dried pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit peel were tested against ten Staphylococcus aureus (six were Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and 4 were Methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) agar well diffusion method. The standard vancomycin disk (30 μg) was used as positive control. The water and solvent extracts showed significant antagonistic effect against S. aureus isolates used, whereas, chloroform extract showed non inhibitory action on the pathogenic bacteria. The pomegranate peel water extracts sterilized by bacterial filter (0.02um) showed higher inhibitory effect against the bacterial isolates than that sterilized by autoclaving at 121˚C. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) of solvent extracts ranged from 12, 5-100 μg/ml). Pomegranate peel extracts could be described as potent antibacterial agent.

Key words: Punica granatum L. peel, antibacterial agents. Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant (MRSA)