Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Punica granatum L. (fruit bark and leaves)

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Punica granatum Linn (fruit bark and leaves) were macerated with hexane, ethylacetate, methanol and water successively. The extracts were tested in vitro for activity against standard strains microbes and clinical isolates. The zones of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined. The in vitro antimicrobial screening revealed that the extract exhibited varying activity against different microbes with zones of inhibition ranging from 14-34mm, MIC ranging from 0.625 -10mg/ml, and MBC/MFC of 1.25-10mg/ml for the sensitive organisms at the tested concentrations. The highest activity was an MIC of 0.625 mg/ml and MBC of 1.25mg/ml. The activities observed could be due to the presence of some of the secondary metabolites like, alkaloids, anthraquinones, sterols, glycosides, saponins, terpenes and flavonoids detected in the plant