Effect of Punica granatum rinds ethanolic extract on healing of fungated wounds in rabbits

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an ancient fruit used in various systems of medicine for a variety of ailments. The study has been designed to investigate the role of ethanolic extract of rinds of Punica granatum as antimicrobial on 6 types of bacteria includes; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staph aureus, E.coli, Streptococcus spp. and Klebsiella pneumonia and antifungal activity on 4 types of fungi includes; Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigates and Aspergillus valvas. Also the study build to assessment the ability of rinds ethanolic extract of Punica granatum to reduced the oxidative intention as a result of fungal infection and to accelerate the wound healing in normal and wound model infected with fungi using local rabbits as experimental animals. To achieve this goal 30 adults rabbits were used and divided into three groups, one as control group and the others as treated groups. Two wounds models via incision were make and infected with fungi. The first infected group was treated with ethanolic extract of Punica granatum and the second group treated with 0.5 g ointment of ethanolic extract of Punica granatum. The results of antimicrobial assessment exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activity against almost all tested bacteria and fungi, and the used of rinds ethanolic extract of Punica granatum for each treated groups (300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) also showed significant (P<0.05) improvement in percentage of wounds contraction and healing. In addition the oxidative stress was assessed by estimating the serum levels of antioxidant enzymes: malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and SOD. Also the results shows that the treatment with ethanolic extract of rind of Punica granatum markedly prevented oxidative stress by increasing of catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and decreasing the level of MDA and SOD. In conclusion the study revealed that use of rinds ethanolic extract of Punica granatum as a lotion and ointment improve the wounds healing properties.