International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 1 2 2012 June 10 Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties, Phytochemical Contents and Antioxidant Capacities of Leaf Extracts of Punica granatum L. 32 37 EN Muhammad Jamshed Khan 1 Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PAKISTAN Asad Abbas 2 University of Salmanca, SPAIN Mazhar Ayaz 3 Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PAKISTAN Naeem Muhammad 4 Institute of Applied and Pure Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PAKISTAN Saleem Qadir 5 University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PAKISTAN Muhammad Saleem Akhter 6 Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PAKISTAN Zia Waseem 7 Livestock and Dairy department, Government of Punjab, PAKISTAN P. Muthusamy 1 Department of Biotechnology, Karunya University,Tamil Nadu, INDIA S. Murugan 2 Department of Biotechnology, Karunya University,Tamil Nadu, INDIA Smitha Manothi 3 Department of Biotechnology, Karunya University,Tamil Nadu, INDIA Nishi K. 1 Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA N.K. Gupta 2 Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA S.C. Sharma 3 Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA Kumar Praveen G.N. 1 Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Institute of Technology, Soladevanahalli, Bangalore-560 090, INDIA Sumangala K. Bhat 2 Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Institute of Technology, Soladevanahalli, Bangalore-560 090, INDIA Nacua Sherwin S. 1 Biology Department, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, PHILIPPINES Torres Mark Anthony J. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan City, PHILIPPINES Cesar G. Demayo 3 Department of Biological Sciences, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan City, PHILIPPINES Chaitra R. Hegde 1 Dept. of Microbiology, A Div. of Centre for Advanced Studies in Biosciences, Jain University, Bangalore, INDIA Madhuri M. 2 Dept. of Microbiology, A Div. of Centre for Advanced Studies in Biosciences, Jain University, Bangalore, INDIA Nishitha Swaroop T. 3 Dept. of Microbiology, A Div. of Centre for Advanced Studies in Biosciences, Jain University, Bangalore, INDIA Arijit Das 4 Dept. of Microbiology, A Div. of Centre for Advanced Studies in Biosciences, Jain University, Bangalore, INDIA Sourav Bhattacharya 5 Dept. of Microbiology, A Div. of Centre for Advanced Studies in Biosciences, Jain University, Bangalore, INDIA Rohit K.C. 6 Sapthagiri College of Engineering, Bangalore, INDIA > Research Paper 2012 5 21 2012 June 10 The numerous side effects associated with the use of allopathic drugs have led to renewed level of interest in Ayurvedic medicines. Punica granatum L. is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub, belonging to the family Lythraceae and is cultivated throughout Asia, Middle-East and the Mediterranean region. The shrub has been known to possess several medicinal and curative properties. The present investigation focuses on antimicrobial properties, phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential of leaf extracts of Punica granatum L. The methanolic extract inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi and Proteus mirabilis, whereas, the chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts exhibited moderate inhibitory effects against the test bacteria. On the other hand, only methanolic extract demonstrated antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus sp. The phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract of the leaves revealed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, sterols, glycosides, phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, proteins and saponins, whereas, gums were not detected. Total antioxidant potential of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were found as 2.26 and 1.06 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent per ml of the extract, respectively. The results indicated that the methanolic extract of the leaves are pharmacologically more active than the other extracts. Copyright@ International Science Community Association