title: Pomegranate extract inhibits Staphylococcus aureus growth and subsequent enterotoxin production.
abstract: In Brazil, pomegranate (Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae)) is widely used as a phytotherapeutic agent. This study evaluates the effect of pomegranate extract on Staphylococcus aureus FRI 722 growth and subsequent enterotoxin production. Bacterial susceptibility was determined by tube dilution method and production of enterotoxin was assessed using membrane-over-agar (MOA) plates. At a low extract concentration (0.01% v/v) bacterial growth was delayed, while a higher concentration (1% v/v) eliminated bacterial growth. Most interestingly, a 0.05% (v/v) concentration of extract was found to inhibit Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) A production. These data further implicate pomegranate extracts as potential antibacterial therapeutics with the added ability to inhibit enterotoxin production.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shupp
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jett
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Carmo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chartone-Souza
authors.forename: A M A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D029561:Lythraceae; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004768:Enterotoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts