Efficacy of Phytochemicals Present in Leaves of Punica granatum against Malassezia Species

Abstract

Punica granatum is a valuable medicinal plant traditionally used to cure skin infections. This study was aimed to determine the antifungal activity of P. granatum leaves against Malassezia species which commonly causes superficial skin infections in humans. Agar well diffusion method was performed using aqueous and methanol extracts of P. granatum leaves against three species of Malassezia. The chosen methanol crude extract was fractionated and the fractions were tested for antifungal activity. TLC was performed on the chosen ethyl acetate fraction followed by contact bioautography. Methanol crude extract and the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol crude extract exhibited the highest antifungal activity against the tested Malassezia species. Phytochemical analysis using TLC revealed the presence many bio-active compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction. Contact bioautography of the detected spots of TLC indicated growth inhibitory activities in Malassezia species. Results reveal that many phytochemicals present in P. granatum are effective against Malassezia species.