The chemical composition and inhibitory action of Punica granatum (L.) extracts against Candida spp.: A brief review

Abstract

Faced with increasing cases of antimicrobial resistance, new compounds from natural products have been scientifically investigated for their antibacterial and antifungalaction. Ethnopharmacological studies have shown that many plants extracts have been a source of new bioactive compounds acting against several types of diseases, attracting attention to researchers, aimed at their application in medicine. Studies were carried out with extracts from Punica granatum L. and its compounds have showed antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects for the treatment of oral diseases, skin diseases, diarrhea, helminth infections, microbial infections and respiratory diseases among others. Its antimicrobial activity has been investigated recently, and may be present in various parts of the plant such as flowers, leaves, stems and bark. It was found high activity of the P. granatum methanolic extracts against strains of Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and other species. Candida yeast is an opportunistic pathogen and its virulence factors may contribute to its invasion and pathogenicity. These considerations served as a basis of the studies carried out in this review work, aiming to evaluate the use of extracts obtained from different parts of the P. granatum L. fruits as antimicrobial agents, associated to researches of components with bioactive potential present in these structures, determined by mass spectrometry.

Keywords: Punica granatum, extract, antifungal, Candida spp.