Antibacterial activity of fresh pomegranate juice against clinical strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis

The global rise of multi-drug resistant M. tuberculosis demands unconventional treatment to enhance the efficiency of current drugs. Punica granatum, which is known as pomegranate, is considered as a member of the Punicaceae family. Pomegranate, which is broadly documented for its activity against a wide spectrum of bacterial pathogens, deserves further scrutiny in this respect. Within this scope, this study investigated the effect of fresh pomegranate juice (FPJ) on the antibacterial activity of anti-tuberculosis drugs (Rifampin (R) and Isoniazid (INH)) against MDR-TB clinical isolates. The drug resistance profiles in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were determined by susceptibility test using BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Four concentrations of fresh pomegranate juice (FPJ) (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) were evaluated in combination with R and INH at a dose range of (1.0 µg/ml) and (0.1 µg/ml), respectively against the MDR-TB isolates by the BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Moreover, this study scrutinized individual phenolic compounds of FPJ by using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The total polyphenols (TP), total flavonoid (TF), total anthocyanins content (TAC), and the antioxidant capacity were also assessed in FPJ. Synergistic effects were observed between R and INH with FPJ against all tested strains. However, combination therapy of rifampin was more effective than isoniazid one. Therefore, the combination of R and FPJ has been used against (27) MDR-TB clinical isolates. 5% of FPJ plus R (1.0 µg/ml) were found to suppress the growth of one isolates for first group (INH and R resistant). However, 5% of FPJ demonstrated no synergistic impact with R for second (SM, R and INH resistant) and third group (INH, EMB, R and SM resistant). Moreover, 10% of FPJ and R (1.0 μg/ml) inhibited the bacterial growth of three isolates of first group and two isolates and one isolate for second and third group, respectively. Remarkably, 15% of FPJ plus R (1.0 µg/ml) appeared to inhibit the growth of MDR-TB isolates for all tested groups indicating a strong synergistic effect. Regarding H37RV, the complete inhibition of the bacterial growth was found to occur at 15% and 20% concentrations of FPJ only. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of FPJ ranged from (4% to13%) for first group and from (10% to15%) for second and third group. Thus, FPJ at 15% inhibited 100% of bacteria for all tested isolates (MIC100% =15%). Phenolic compounds identified in FPJ were gallic acid, benzoic acid, syringic, folic acid, pelargonidin, naringin+ellagic acid, naringenin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, cyanidin-3-glycoside, p-cummaric acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. Total phenolic (TP), total flavonoid (TF), and total anthocyanin (TA) content were 841.5 mg/L, 638.73 mg RE/L, and 47.43 mg/L, accordingly. Overall, FPJ displayed synergistic effect with R against MDR-TB clinical isolates due to its high content of polyphenol and antioxidant capability.

Effect of fresh pomegranate juice on the pharmacokinetic profile of artemether: An open-label, randomized, 2- period crossover study in healthy human volunteers

The effect of pomegranate juice on type 2 diabetic conditions has been determined in various occasions. However, such an effect on cortisol and thyroxine hormones, which are major controllers of energy metabolism, is not yet revealed. In this study, we intended to measure the short-term effect of fresh pomegranate juice on serum cortisol and thyroxine in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was a randomized clinical trial in which 89 fasted patients with type 2 diabetes were supplemented with fresh pomegranate juice at a dose of 1.5 mL kg-1. Blood specimens were then collected before and at 1 and 3 hours after juice administration. Serum cortisol and thyroxine were assessed using commercial chemiluminescent-immunoassay kits. Serum cortisol, but not thyroxine, was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingesting fresh pomegranate juice. In addition, no significant correlation (r2 = 0.00003, P = 0.9569) was observed between cortisol response to fresh pomegranate juice and the level of fasting serum glucose in the recruited patients. Moreover, no significant difference (P = 0.9118) in cortisol response to fresh pomegranate juice was found between recruited males and females. In conclusion, fresh pomegranate juice decreased serum cortisol, 1 hour after juice ingestion, but not serum thyroxine 3 hours after juice ingestion, in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, cortisol response to fresh pomegranate juice was found not to be affected by patients' gender and the level of fasting serum glucose.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of short-term usage of fresh pomegranate juice (FPJ) on ototoxicity after cisplatin-based chemo-irradiation MATERIALS and METHODS: The study was carried out on 56 adult Wistar Albino rats, which were divided into 8 groups (n: 7 for each group). The first group was accepted as the sham control group. However, rats in the seven experimental groups were treated with FPJ; cisplatin; irradiation; irradiation plus FPJ; cisplatin plus FPJ; both cisplatin and irradiation; and combined use of cisplatin, irradiation, and FPJ, respectively. Ototoxicity was evaluated by Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOA), histopathology, and paracochlear protein carbonyl content. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that cisplatin, irradiation, and both cisplatin and irradiation treatments affected hair cells dramatically. However, the results of cisplatin plus FPJ and combined use of cisplatin, irradiation, and FPJ indicated that FPJ plays an important role in protecting hair cells in the inner ear. Additionally, the findings of signal-noise ratio and protein carbonyl values also supported the results stated above. CONCLUSION: Fresh pomegranate juice treatment can be a supportive agent to reduce hair cell injury in the inner ear of patient treated by cisplatin, radiotherapy, or cisplatin-based chemo-irradiation. However, more performance is necessary for further studies, especially on long-term treatment with FPJ.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of pasteurization and concentration techniques on somephysicochemical parameters, volatile flavor compounds and polyphenols composition of clear pomegranate juice and toevaluate the use of cut-back process for improving the quality of the juice concentrate. The results showed no markedchanges could be observed in titratable acidity, total sugars and pH value, whereas ascorbic acid content and colorparameters of the juice were affected by pasteurization. A total of 27 compounds were identified in fresh pomegranatejuice: 7 monoterpenes, 6 esters, 5 aldehydes, 3 alcohols, 4 ketone, 1 ether and 1 alkane hydrocarbon. Concentration andpasteurization processes resulted in loss of the two major aroma compounds (Ethyl acetate and Ethyl propanoate)whereas pasteurization alone resulted in loss of one monoterpene (3-Carene). Pomegranate juice prepared by cut-backprocess retained all the 27 aroma compounds found in fresh juice but in slightly lower concentration. Twenty threephenolic compounds were identified and quantified in pomegranate juice. Pyrogallol was the predominating polyphenolin addition to varying concentrations of gallic acid, 4 Epi-catechin, 4-amino benzoic, protocatchouic, catechin,chlorogenic acid, chatechol, P-OH-benzoic acid, ellagic acid, P-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. Concentration processresulted in considerable increase in polyphenols concentration whereas pasteurization lowered its concentration to agreat extent. The highest polyphenol concentration was found in pomegranate juice from cut-back process. It is to beconcluded that cut-back process could be a promising process in producing better quality juice.

Fresh organically grown pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) of the Wonderful cultivar were processed into three components: fermented juice, aqueous pericarp extract and cold-pressed or supercritical CO2-extracted seed oil. Exposure to additional solvents yielded polyphenol-rich fractions ('polyphenols') from each of the three components. Their actions, and of the crude whole oil and crude fermented and unfermented juice concentrate, were assessed in vitro for possible chemopreventive or adjuvant therapeutic potential in human breast cancer. The ability to effect a blockade of endogenous active estrogen biosynthesis was shown by polyphenols from fermented juice, pericarp, and oil, which inhibited aromatase activity by 60-80%. Fermented juice and pericarp polyphenols, and whole seed oil, inhibited 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 from 34 to 79%, at concentrations ranging from 100 to 1,000 microg/ml according to seed oil >> fermented juice polyphenols > pericarp polyphenols. In a yeast estrogen screen (YES) lyophilized fresh pomegranate juice effected a 55% inhibition of the estrogenic activity of 17-beta-estradiol; whereas the lyophilized juice by itself displayed only minimal estrogenic action. Inhibition of cell lines by fermented juice and pericarp polyphenols was according to estrogen-dependent (MCF-7) >> estrogen-independent (MB-MDA-231) > normal human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). In both MCF-7 and MB-MDA-231 cells, fermented pomegranate juice polyphenols consistently showed about twice the anti-proliferative effect as fresh pomegranate juice polyphenols. Pomegranate seed oil effected 90% inhibition of proliferation of MCF-7 at 100 microg/ml medium, 75% inhibition of invasion of MCF-7 across a Matrigel membrane at 10 microg/ml, and 54% apoptosis in MDA-MB-435 estrogen receptor negative metastatic human breast cancer cells at 50 microg/ml. In a murine mammary gland organ culture, fermented juice polyphenols effected 47% inhibition of cancerous lesion formation induced by the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). The findings suggest that clinical trials to further assess chemopreventive and adjuvant therapeutic applications of pomegranate in human breast cancer may be warranted.

The study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of various beverages carbonated drinks, i.e., thumps up, fresh fruit juice (apple and pomegranate) and packaged fruit juice (apple and pomegranate) on tooth surface morphology under scanning electron microscope. Thirty recently extracted intact caries-free human permanent teeth were disinfected with 5.25% of sodium hypochlorite solution and autoclaved at 240°F, 20 psi pressure for 40 min. Each tooth was sectioned into 4 enamel sections yielding 120 sections which were embedded in resin using a prefabricated mold. Prepared samples were immersed as Group I - thumps up, Group II - fresh apple juice, Group III - packaged apple juice, Group IV - fresh pomegranate juice, Group V - packaged pomegranate juice, and Group VI - normal saline. Each immersion was done daily for 30 min over 14 days after which samples were scanned under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 23; Chicago Inc., IL, USA). The highest surface roughness was noted in the fresh pomegranate and packaged pomegranate groups with a mean of 2.9000 ± 0.30779 followed by thumbs up group. The greatest mean of cracks was noted in thumbs up group with a mean of 2.500 ± 0.51299 which was significant at P = 0.000. The greatest mean of score was noted in thumbs up group with a mean of 2.3000 ± 0.65695 which was significant at P = 0.000. The present study demonstrated that all drinks were erosive in nature with thumps and pomegranate juice showing significantly higher erosiveness than apple juice (P < 0.01).

Our phytochemical investigation defined the polyphenol, anthocyanin and flavonoid content from methanolic, ethanolic 50% and watery extracts from fresh pomegranate juice and seeds with a spectrophotometric method. The antioxidant capacity was defined with the ABTS and DPPH methods. We determined the polyphenols with the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the anthocyanins with the method in Hungarian Pharmacopoeia VIIIth edition at Myrtilli fructus monography and the flavonoids with a modified method of the Romanian Pharmacopeia Xth edition Cynarae folium monography. We expressed the concentration of polyphenols in gallic acids (GA). The values indicated the following: in fruit juice, 47.57 μg GA/ml, in methanol seed extract 7 μg GA/g, the ethanol 50% and in watery seed extracts 8 μg GA/g. The definition of flavonoids indicated the following values expressed in quercetin (QE): in fruit juice 706 μg QE/ml, in methanol seed extract 416 μg QE/g, in ethanol 50% seed extract 46 μg QE/g and in watery seed extract 57 μg QE/g. The anthocyans from juice 3.95 mg/100 ml and seed 6.47 mg/100 g expressed in cyanidin-3-0-glycoside. We determined the following values with the ABTS method: the antioxidant capacity of juice is 25.40 μg/ml, in methanol seed extract 2.87 μg/ml, in ethanol seed extract 2.52 μg/ml, in watery 9.15 μg/ml. With the DPPH method, we obtained the following values: from juice 54.2 μg/ml, from methanolic extract 14.7 μg/ml, from ethanolic extract 10.58 μg/ml and watery extract 18.22 μg/ml. The received data shows the importance of pomegranate, which can be a new phytotherapeutic potential resource.

Pomegranate juice was treated by isochoric freezing (-15°C/130MPa) for 24h and then stored under three different conditions for up to 4weeks: 4°C/0.1MPa, 24°C/0.1MPa, and -10°C/100MPa. The juice microbiological stability and quality were compared to those using heat treatment at 95°C for 15s followed by cold storage at 4°C. Heat-treated and isochoric frozen (IF) pomegranate juice stored under isochoric conditions showed no spoilage microorganisms after 4weeks of storage. Also, IF juice stored at 4 or 24°C for 4weeks had lower microbial loads than those in fresh pomegranate juice. IF juice stored under isochoric conditions showed greater color stability, antioxidant capacity, and nutrient retention (anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, and total phenolic compounds) than heat-treated juices stored at 4°C. IF juice stored at 4°C also showed greater anthocyanin and ascorbic acid contents compared with heat-treated juice. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Isochoric freezing storage at -10°C can be used to preserve the quality properties of fresh pomegranate juice. Isochoric freezing at -15°C for 24h can also be used as a pretreatment to extend the shelf life of refrigerated pomegranate juice since the applied pressures reached total inactivation levels of spoilage microorganisms.

Effects of postharvest storage conditions on phytochemical and radical-scavenging activity of pomegranate fruit (cv. Wonderful)

This study evaluated the direct mutagenicity of fresh, and sterilized pomegranate juices and their modification effect on mutagenesis induced by nitrite treated 1‐aminopyrene in the absenceof metabolic activation on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA100. It was found that fresh juice was not mutagenic on both strains either with or without nitrite treatment. But the highest amount (24.67 mg/plate) of sterilized sample after being treated with nitrite exhibited slight mutagenicity on TA 98. Fresh pomegranate juice did not show antimutagenic activity against nitrite treated 1‐aminopyrene. In addition, it presented co‐mutagenic effect. Sterilized pomegranate juices kept for 0, 30 and 90 days were also evaluated for their antimutagenicity. It was found that sterilized sample kept for 90 days exhibited weak antimutagenic activity against nitrite treated 1‐ aminopyrene on TA 98. The results obtained from the present experimental condition revealed that antimutagenic activity of pomegranate juice is not clear.Further studies will be needed to investigate the antimutagenicity potential of pomegranate juice.

Natural polyphenols contained in olive mill wastewaters (OMW) have been usually associated with great bioactive properties as “antioxidants”. In this work, we recovered the polyphenols after adsorption onto natural clay “ghassoul” by different solvents: water, ethyl acetate, and methanol (PPW, PPA, and PPM, respectively) to avoid environmental pollution. Also, we tested the antioxidant activity of the extracted polyphenols by two methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Then, we analyzed antimicrobial activity by the microdilution technique to determine at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The OMW of the Fez-Meknes region has a very acidic pH, considerable amounts of mineral matter, and a high concentration of polyphenols and organic content. The results of the test from DPPH showed good antiradical potential for polyphenols extracted with water, but the TAC showed an important capacity for all extracts unless PPA. The antibacterial activity is not the same on the four bacteria studied (Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis), and all extracts inhibit most tested germs that do not have the same MIC and the same sensitivity. Only the PPW showed the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) that is equal to 0.290 mg/mL for Salmonella sp and Staphylococcus aureus, which confirms that the extraction by water of the adsorbed polyphenols is an original solution to recover the polyphenols and also to obtain a natural phenolic antioxidant which can be used in the pharmaceutical, nourishment, and cosmetic industry.

Edible flowers are widely consumed for their potential health benefits. This study assessed the active components and invitro antioxidant properties of 50 edible flowers from Yunnan to explore their potential uses. A 70% ethanol extract was prepared, and the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC) were analyzed. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assays. Additionally, tyrosinase inhibition and antimicrobial activities were determined, and the correlation between active components and antioxidant capacity was investigated. The results showed that Prunus mume had high polyphenol content, Osmanthus fragrans Lour. had high flavonoid content, and Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Dianhong) had high anthocyanin content. Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Mohong) exhibited the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Clerodendranthus spicatus (Thunb.) C. Y. Wu demonstrated the highest FRAP activity, whereas Punica granatum L. showed the highest tyrosinase inhibition activity. Nymphaea coerulea exhibited significant antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Extracts from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. demonstrated excellent antimicrobial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between TPC and antioxidant activities, suggesting that polyphenols are closely linked to antioxidant capacity. This study highlights the potential of these edible flowers as antimicrobial agents and natural antioxidants. Analysis using the membership function identified N. coerulea, R. rugosa, P. granatum, and Lagerstroemia indica L. as having the highest comprehensive scores, indicating their superior quality as sources of bioactive compounds.

Pomegranate is a popular food due to its high polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacities. Pomegranate peel is used in traditional medicine and has greater antioxidant capacity compared with other parts of pomegranate. This study elucidated the differences in the polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacities of the methanolic extracts of pomegranate peel from different geographical localities including Australia, China and USA. The results showed that pomegranate peel from China generally had higher polyphenolic contents and antioxidant capacities than those from Australia and USA. The total contents of polyphenols and flavonoids, but not condensed tannins, were closely correlated with their total antioxidant activities. Differentiation of extracts from Chinese pomegranate peel to those extracts originating from Australia and USA were achieved by multivariate analyses based on their polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacities. The results indicate that polyphenols are useful indicators to differentiate the geographical localities of pomegranate peel and to predict their antioxidant activities. Overall, geographical localities should be taken into consideration when evaluating the polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of pomegranate peel.

Rather than the prophylactic vaccination, any effective synthetic, natural, or nutritional therapy or regimen that may cure or remedy, albeit partially, the complications of SARS-CoV-2 should be highly acknowledged. Here, we reviewed and discussed possible beneficial biological effects of pomegranate juice in such diseased condition of viral infection based on the current published evidence (direct and indirect) and owing to the robust evidence that fresh pomegranate juice is highly rich with unique bioactive compounds that are approved in various occasions to be effective in several chronic diseased conditions. All related references that serve our aim are accessed through available electronic databases, particularly PubMed and Scopus. In summary, there is accepted evidence that pomegranate juice may be beneficial in SARS-CoV-2 infection conditions, especially for patients with the clinical history of chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, the interventional studies that directly probe and confirm the effectiveness of fresh pomegranate juice in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection are mandatory.