In Vitro and In Vivo Antibacterial Activity ofPunica granatumPeel Ethanol Extract againstSalmonella

Punica granatumis commonly used in Korea as a traditional medicine for the treatment of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we investigated thein vitroandin vivoantimicrobial activity ofP. granatumpeel EtOH extract (PGPE) against 16 strains ofSalmonella. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of PGPE were in the range of 62.5–1000 x03BCg mL-1. In addition, thein vivoantibacterial activity of the PGPE extract was examined in aS. typhimuriuminfection mouse model. Mice were initially infected withS. typhimuriumand then with PGPE. The extract was found to have significant effects on mortality and the numbers of viableS. typhimuriumrecovered from feces. Although clinical signs and histological damage were rarely observed in the treated mice, the untreated controls showed signs of lethargy and histological damage in the liver and spleen. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that PGPE has the potential to provide an effective treatment for salmonellosis.