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. 2017:2017:2152749.
doi: 10.1155/2017/2152749. Epub 2017 Oct 25.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Pomegranate Juice and Peel Extracts on Cariogenic Bacteria

Gianmaria Fabrizio Ferrazzano  1 , Elisa Scioscia  2 , Daniela Sateriale  2 , Gabiria Pastore  2 , Roberta Colicchio  3 , Chiara Pagliuca  3   4 , Tiziana Cantile  1 , Brunella Alcidi  1 , Marco Coda  1 , Aniello Ingenito  1 , Elena Scaglione  3 , Annunziata Gaetana Cicatiello  3 , Maria Grazia Volpe  5 , Michele Di Stasio  5 , Paola Salvatore  3   4 , Caterina Pagliarulo  2
Affiliations

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Pomegranate Juice and Peel Extracts on Cariogenic Bacteria

Gianmaria Fabrizio Ferrazzano et al. Biomed Res Int. 2017.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel and juice, against the microorganisms considered the main etiologic agents of dental caries.

Methods: The values of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined against Streptococcus mutans Clarke ATCC® 25175™ strain and Rothia dentocariosa clinical isolate.

Results: Peel extracts inhibit effectively the growth and survival of S. mutans ATCC 25175 strain and R. dentocariosa clinical isolate with MIC and MBC values of 10 μg/μl and 15 μg/μl, respectively. Furthermore, the pomegranate juice extract showed high inhibitory activity against S. mutans ATCC 25175 strain with a MIC value of 25 μg/μl and a MBC value of 40 μg/μl, whereas, against R. dentocariosa, it has displayed a moderate inhibitory activity, with MIC and MBC values of 20 μg/μl and 140 μg/μl, respectively.

Conclusions: In vitro microbiological tests demonstrate that the hydroalcoholic extracts of pomegranate juice and peel are able to contrast the main cariogenic bacteria involved in tooth decay. Although being preliminary data, our results suggest that pomegranate polyphenolic compounds could represent a good adjuvant for the prevention and treatment of dental caries.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of pomegranate juice extracts on (a) growth of S. mutans at different concentration (0, 20, 30, and 40 μg/μl); (b) survival of S. mutans at different concentration (0, 20, 30, and 40 μg/μl); (c) growth of R. dentocariosa at different concentration (0, 20, 30, 60, and 140 μg/μl); (d) survival of R. dentocariosa at different concentration (0, 20, 30, 60, and 140 μg/μl). The experiments were performed in triplicate and statistical significance was examined by the two-way ANOVA test with a Bonferroni correction. Results are indicated as means ± SDs. Asterisks indicate statistical significance (∗, ∗∗P < 0.05; ∗∗∗P < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of pomegranate peel extracts on survival of S. mutans (a) and R. dentocariosa (b) at different concentration (0, 5, 10, and 15 μg/μl). The experiments were performed in triplicate and statistical significance was examined by the two-way ANOVA test with a Bonferroni correction. Results are indicated as means ± SDs. Asterisks indicate statistical significance (∗P < 0.05; ∗∗∗P < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001).
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