A Comprehensive Review on Antimicrobial Properties of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.)

Abstract

Plants have been in use for thousands of years to conserve food and treat health diseases. Many herb and spice extracts contained high levels of phenolics and exhibited antibacterial activityagainst bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria were generally more sensitive to the tested extracts than Gram-negativeones. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is native to the region from northern India to Iran but it is also widelycultivated now in parts of Southwest America, Mexico and Africa. Pharmacological effects of pomegranaterepresent a long history and have been mentioned in the Greek and Egyptian documents.  The pericarp (peels) of Punica granatum has been commonly employed as a crude drug inIndian traditional medicine for treatment of diarrhea as well as for use as an antihelminthic, diuretic, stomachic,cardiotonic.The increasing antibiotic resistance of some pathogens that are associated withfoodborne illness is another concern. This review suggested consumption or using tannin-containing fruitsespecially Pomegranate, could cure or prevent various illnesses by mentioned effects of side effects.