Pomegranate peel has protective effects against enteropathogenic bacteria

 A recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that pomegranate peel extract contains bioactive compounds that have potential antibacterial activity. The study’s findings were published in the journal Nutrition Research.

• Pomegranate fruit peel is considered an agricultural waste product. However, it is a rich source of polyphenols like punicalins, punicalagins and ellagic acids.
• Earlier studies have shown that products derived from pomegranates have health benefits, including antibacterial activity, in vitro.
• There is limited evidence, however, of their antibacterial activity in vivo.
• For this study, researchers sought to determine the antibacterial properties of pomegranate peel extract in vivo. In particular, they focused on the punicalin, punicalagin and ellagic acid present in the peel extract.
• The researchers infected C3H/He mice with the bacterial pathogen Citrobacter rodentium, a bacterium that mimics the enteropathogenic bacterium, Escherichia coli. Prior to infection, the mice were orally treated with water or pomegranate peel extract.
• Twelve days after infection, the researchers examined C. rodentium colonization of the colon and spleen, as well as changes in tissue and gene expression. Fecal excretions were also analyzed for C. rodentium.
• The results revealed that the pomegranate peel extract reduced weight loss and mortality induced by C. rodentium infection.
• The extract also reduced C. rodentium colonization of the spleen.
• Additionally, pomegranate peel extract decreased the extent of damage in the colon caused by C. rodentium infection.

In sum, pomegranate fruit peel extract contains bioactive compounds that can help reduce the severity of C. rodentium infection in vivo.