PLINICA GRANATLIM : A POTENTIAL SOURCE AS ANTIBACTERIAL DRUGRATHISH R. NAIR AND SUMITRA V. CHANDAAbstract Antibacterial activity of Punica granatum (Punicaceae) extracts in aqueous ethanol, methanol, propanol, acetone, benzyl alcohol, 1,4-Dioxan and N, N, Dimethylformamide (DMF) is reported. The selection of solvents was on the basis of their polarity. Growth inhibition using Agar ditch diffusion assay was determined on few clinical strains of B. megateriurn, B.cereus, E.coli, P.vulgaris and K.pneumoniae. Aqueous extract showed antibacterial activity against B.megaterium and K.pneumoniae, while it was ineffective against the remaining three bacterial strains. Different solvents exhibited varying levels of inhibitory zones against different bacterial strains. For B.megaterium aqueous extract proved to be the best, while for B.cereus the ethanolic extract proved to be the best. For P.vulgaris methanolic extract showed the maximum activity, while in K.pneumoniae the 1,4-Dioxan showed the maximum inhibitory zone. None of the solvents had any effect on E. coli. The benzyl alcohol extract was ineffective against all tested bacterial strains. This differential inhibition suggests the presence of different chemical compounds in P. granatum leaf, which can be used to combat the diseases caused by the above stated bacteria.
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