Antibacterial and antifungal activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.cv.) peel

Punica granatum L, cv. Hicaznar and three different genotypes, which are named genotype 19-121, 17-67and 19-66 which have been obtained at Bati{dotless} Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM) in Antalya, have been studied for determination of their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antibacterial activity of peel extracts was tested against three bacteria strains, which were named Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Salmonella Enteritidis (ATCC 13076). The antifungal activity was tested against two fungal strains, which were named Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 and Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 465. All extracts possessed remarkable antibacterial and antifungal activities against all tested bacterial and fungal strains. Among the extracts genotype 19-66 peel extracts had lowest antimicrobial activity, although its peel had highest total phenolic content. Also its acidity was determined to be remarkably lowest as compared other Punica granatum L peels. This result may explain that antibacterial effect of phenolic compounds could be increasing with presence of organic acids