Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Phytotherapy is an alternative for antibiotics therapy in these days since resistance to many antibiotics used in treatment are increasing along with high cost of some antibiotics and side effect on patients. Punica granatum and Vaccinium macrocarpon have antimicrobial properties. this paper suggest that P. granatum and Vaccinium macrocarpon may be more effective than some antibiotics used in the treatment of some Gram negative urinary tract pathogens.
OBJECTIVE:
Punica granatum juice, cranberry juice and antibiotics were used to investigate the antimicrobial activity by using well diffusion method.
MATERIALS & METHODS:
A total of four different urinary tract causing pathogens collected from patients with urinary tract infection (UTI).
RESULT:
The result indicate that extract obtained from Punica granatum pericarp exhibited antimicrobial activity against all organisms almost similar to the effect of cranberry which is not grown in Iraq and that Punica granatum and Vaccinium macrocarpon are more effective than some antibiotics used in the treatment of urinary tract infection.
CONCLUSION:
The antibacterial activity of crude extract of P. granatum against urinary tract causing organisms is reported for the first time and it showed similarity with the effect of cranberry juice that are not found or imported to the local market. Further phytochemical elucidations are required to determine the nature of compound(s) responsible for the antibacterial effects. This study is generally considered an effective approach in the discovery of new antibacterial agents from P. granatum.