Antimicrobial efficiency of Punica granatum L. on Escherichia coli

Namen diplomske naloge je pridobiti učinkovine iz različnih delov Punica granatum L. in proučiti njihov inhibitorni učinek na rast mikrobnih celic Escherichia coli ter določiti vsebnost totalnih fenolov in vitamina C v vzorcih. S klasično vodno ekstrakcijo in Soxhletovo ekstrakcijo z etanolom smo pridobili učinkovine iz svežih in liofiliziranih semen, membrane in eksokarpa Punica granatum L. Proučili smo inhibitorni učinek ekstraktov na rast mikrobne kulture E. coli z disk difuzijsko metodo ter določili vsebnost totalnih fenolov in vitamina C v vzorcih. Ugotovili smo, da se v celotnem sadežu Punica granatum L. nahajajo totalni fenoli, vitamin C in antimkrobne spojine, ki zavirajo rast bakterijske kulture E. coli. Koncentracije naštetih spojin so najvišje v membrani in eksokarpu Punica granatum L., saj smo v njihovih ekstraktih določili najvišjo vsebnost totalnih fenolov in vitamina C in omenjena dela Punica granatum L. izkazujeta tudi največji inhibitorni učinek na rast E. coli. Najmanj totalnih fenolov in vitamina C se nahaja v ekstraktih semen.The purpose of this work was to obtain bioactive substances from different parts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and to study their inhibitory properties on the growth of Escherichia coli microbial cells and the content of total phenols and vitamin C. With the use of classical aqueous extraction and Soxhlet extraction with ethanol we have extracted bioactive substances from fresh and lyophilized pomegranate seeds, membranes and exocarp. The extracts were then tested for their inhibitory properties on the growth of Escherichia coli microbial culture by disk diffusion method. They were also tested for their total phenol content and vitamin C content. The results indicated that one whole pomegranate fruit contains total phenols, vitamin C and antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli bacterial culture. The concentration of these compounds is highest in the pomegranate membrane and exocarp, and the lowest in pomegranate seeds