Alzhraa Ali Mohamed

Conference 2024 Pre-Recorded

Talk Title

Pomegranate peel extract for tackling bacterial AMR

Authors and Affiliations

Abdulaziz Alqahtani1, Alzhraa Ali Mohamed2, Irfan Ahmad1, Yasser Alraey1, Mohammed Asiri1, Jonathan Kopel3, Mohammed Merae Alshahrani4

1.Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 61413, Abha, 9088, Saudi Arabia
2. Department of microbiology and botany, Faculty of Science, Zagazig university, Egypt
3. School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, 79430, USA
4. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, 1988, Najran, 61441, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are one of the major public health threats facing humanity. Infections with MDR strains are difficult or impossible to treat with standard antibiotics leading to severe illnesses and even deaths. The spread of MDR bacteria has necessitated the search for alternative approaches that tackle MDR pathogens. Natural plants can be utilized as alternative therapeutic agents against the rise of MDR bacteria.

Methods

In this study, we aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel extracts (PPE) against MDR clinical isolates. A total of 9 clinical isolates (8 MDR and 1 non-MDR clinical isolates) were collected and examined for their susceptibility to PPE. Using the zone of inhibition assay, 4 isolates (S. aureus, three MRSA isolates, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and Acinetobacter baumannii) were sensitive to PPE.

Results

Broth assay, 4 mg/ml PPE significantly reduced the growth (S. aureus, three MRSA isolates, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and Acinetobacter baumannii), while 40 mg/ml PPE either significantly reduced or completely inhibited the growth of the isolates. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PPE against S. aureus and MRSA-88 was 10 mg/ml.

Conclusions

This study showed the potential of PPE as an alternative compound for treating infections caused by PPE-sensitive MDR bacteria.