Anti-microbial activities of pomegranate rind extracts: enhancement by cupric sulphate against clinical isolates of S. aureus, MRSA and PVL positive CA-MSSA.
BACKGROUND
Recently, natural products have been evaluated as sources of antimicrobial agents with efficacies against a variety of micro-organisms.


METHODS
This report describes the antimicrobial activities of pomegranate rind extract (PRE) singularly and in combination with cupric sulphate against methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA respectively), and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin positive community acquired MSSA (PVL positive CA-MSSA).


RESULTS
PRE alone showed limited efficacy against MRSA and MSSA strains. Exposure to copper (II) ions alone for 2 hours resulted in moderate activity of between 102 to 103 log10 cfu mL-1 reduction in growth. This was enhanced by the addition of PRE to 104 log10 cfu mL-1 reduction in growth being observed in 80% of the isolates. However, the PVL positive CA-MSSA strains were more sensitive to copper (II) ions which exhibited moderate activities of between 103 log10 cfu mL-1 reduction in growth for 60% of the isolates.


CONCLUSIONS
PRE, in combination with Cu(II) ions, was seen to exhibit moderate antimicrobial effects against clinical isolates of MSSA, MRSA and PVL positive CA-MSSA isolates. The results of this study indicate that further investigation into the active ingredients of natural products, their mode of action and potential synergism with other antimicrobial agents is warranted. This is the first report of the efficacy of pomegranate against clinical PVL positive CA-MSSA isolates.
Gould
Simon W J
SW
School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK. S.Gould@kingston.ac.uk
Fielder
Mark D
MD
Kelly
Alison F
AF
Naughton
Declan P
DP
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005098:Exotoxins; D005638:Fruit; D007956:Leukocidins; D029561:Lythraceae; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003300:Copper; D019327:Copper Sulfate