Abstract

In this study, the antibacterial activity of leaf of Punica granatum was investigated. Different solvents used were, water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, propanol, 1,4-dioxan, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and benzyl alcohol. The selection of solvents was on the basis of their polarity. The antibacterial activity of six clinical strains (S. paratyphi, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. aerogenes P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis) was determined by Growth inhibition using Agar ditch diffusion assay. The aqueous extract was able to inhibit only B. subtilis and S. aureus and was ineffective against all the other four bacterial strains. On the other hand organic solvents proved much better in inhibiting the studied bacterial strains except benzyl alcohol extract which was ineffective against all tested bacterial strains. Among the various solvents, 1,4-dioxan proved to be best while propanol was least effective. Finally, E. aerogenes was found to be most resistant bacteria, while S. aureus, S. epidermidis and B. subtilis were most susceptible.