title: Antibacterial and antifungal activities of punica granatum peel extracts against oral pathogens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Punica granatum has been used for many years in folk medicine due to several purposes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Punica granatum peel (MEPGP) against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Actynomyces viscosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Candida albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this in vitro study, the mentioned oral organisms were cultured in blood agar and mueller-hinton media and then paper disks containing MEPGP at concentrations of 4 mg/ml, 8 mg/ml and 12 mg/ml were inserted on medias. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar disk diffusion method. The effects of three different concentrations of MEPGP against microorganisms were compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All concentrations of MEPGP had antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Only at concentration of 8 mg/ml and 12 mg/ml MEPGP was effective against L. acidophilus, S. mutans and S. salivarius. Furthermore; no concentrations of MEPGP inhibited A. viscosus and C. albicans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that MEPGP might be used as an antibacterial agent in controlling oral infections.
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Sh
authors: Sh
authors: Abdollahzadeh
authors: Ry
authors: R
authors: Mashouf
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Mortazavi
authors: Mh
authors: M
authors: Moghaddam
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Roozbahani
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vahedi