Prof. Dr. Alaa Abdul Hussein Al-Daami published a scientific research paper titled “In Vitro Evaluation of Pomegranate and Hibiscus Extracts Compared to a Commercial Cranberry Product Against Escherichia coli (E. coli) Causing Urinary Tract Infections.”
In the Journal of Bioscience and Applied Research.
Indexed in Q2.
The research aimed to highlight that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial diseases worldwide, caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). The increasing global resistance to antibiotics has prompted researchers to seek alternative treatments.
The study concluded that hibiscus and pomegranate extracts, and a 50:50 mixture of these extracts, combined with a commercial cranberry product, exhibit antibacterial effects against E. coli. Four solvents were used to extract dried pomegranate peel and hibiscus calyces. Agar diffusion was then used to test the products’ bactericidal activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum sterile concentration (MBC) were determined for the optimal extraction liquid exhibiting the highest antibacterial activity.
The study found that 70% acidified ethanol was the most effective solvent for extracting the compounds and demonstrated superior antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. The pomegranate extract also exhibited higher antibacterial activity than the corresponding hibiscus extract, with better MIC and MBC values. Combining the two extracts and testing them against the same bacteria resulted in higher activity than the corresponding standard herbal products.
