Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities and Phytochemical Properties of Punica granatum Flowers in Iran

The antioxidant and antibacterial activities in the ethanol extract of pomegranate flowers were evaluated and used in the present study. Antioxidant activities were studied by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power, total antioxidant capacity methods. The total phenolic contents of flower were analyzed by Folin–Ciocalteu methods. Antimicrobial activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of valid against 8 antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains including two species of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Shigella spp. were investigated. The extract was primarily screened for their possible antibacterial effects using disc diffusion methods. The antioxidant activity of extraction was investigated, including the scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (27.92 μg ml−1 as EC50 value), the total phenolic contents (40.8 ± 1.3 mg gallic acid equivalent g−1 of extract), total flavonoid contents (64 ± 38 mg quercetin equivalent g l−1 of extract), and reducing power there were significant differences between extract and BHT (P < 0.05). The potential antibacterial activities at different concentrations of the extract were elucidated. The extract displayed variable degrees of antibacterial activities on different bacteria and the highest amount of total phenol and also a significant antioxidant activity. © 2018, Shiraz University