Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Methanol Extracts from Various Plant Parts of Pomegranate and Anatolian Black Pine

Abstract

Oxidative stress and bacterial infections threaten human and animal health. Different parts of the plants have a great potential to be used as a source of antioxidant and antibacterial agents for human or animal welfare, because of their active metabolites. This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of methanolic extracts from the leaves, flowers, whole fruits, and woods of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), and the leaves, cones, and woods of Anatolian black pine [Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe]. Antioxidant activity was screened by DPPH and CUPRAC assays. Antimicrobial activity was examined by disc diffusion test against fish pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio anguillarum, Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae. Pomegranate whole fruit extract possessed superior antioxidant activity even higher than ascorbic acid. All parts of pomegranate, except wood, also exhibited significant antibacterial activity against fish pathogens. Black pine cone extract slightly inhibited the growth of fish pathogens while other pine extracts were inactive. This study reveals that the whole fruit of pomegranate is a prominent source of antioxidant and antibacterial metabolites. Cones of Anatolian black pine also seem to be a source of antibacterial compounds against fish pathogens.