Planta Med 2009; 75 - PJ171
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234976

Anti-typhoid potential of Punica granatum (pomegranate) – An in vitro study

A Hannan 1, M Rashid 2, A Shabbir 1, M Barkaat 1, S Salam 3, A Hafeez 1
  • 1Department of Microbiology
  • 2Department of Pharmacology
  • 3Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Khayaban-e-Jamia Punjab, Lahore-54600, Pakistan

Typhoid fever remains a significant clinical problem all over the world, especially the third world [1]. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance especially to the fluoroquinolones has led to difficulties in the management of typhoid fever [2]. Plants containing alkaloids, flavonoids and polyphenols are reported to exhibit several biological properties [3]. The pomegranate plant possesses an immense therapeutic value. Anti-microbial activity of pomegranate's constituents/extracts of different parts is well established. Antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel has been tested against only one strain of S. typhi. Besides, no comparative study regarding the different parts of pomegranate against S. typhi has been done yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-bacterial potential of pomegranate against Salmonella typhi. Ethanolic extracts of pomegranate's different parts; peel, pericarp and fruit were screened for anti-bacterial activity against „Multi-Drug Resistance“ (MDR) strain (UHS-14) by agar well diffusion method. 6% phenol was used as positive control. The peel extract had the largest inhibitory zone of 22.73±0.26mm against Salmonella typhi followed by pericarp (22.47±0.36mm) and fruit (15.55±0.29mm) extracts at neat concentration. The peel, pericarp and fruit extracts were further evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against forty five clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi. The peel extract showed MIC of 22mg/ml; followed by pericarp (MIC 24mg/ml) and fruit extract (64mg/ml). Ethanolic peel extract displayed highest antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi in both agar diffusion and agar dilution assay as compared to pericarp and fruit extracts. This warrants further evaluation of peel extract in suitable typhoid animal model.

Acknowledgements: We are extremely grateful to University of Health Sciences for funding of this research project.

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