Effect of Pomegranate Peel Extract onCandida albicansGrowth and Biofilm Formation

Abstract

In the present work, we studied the potential antioxidant capacity and antibiofilm of pomegranate peel extract of two cultivars againstCandida albicansstrains. First, both pomegranate peel extracts were evaluated to determine their total phenolic and tannin contents. Their antioxidant activity was investigated using hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. Acid fruit peel extract showed the most significant levels of total polyphenols (513.78 ± 1.552 mg GAE/g DE) and possessed the strongest antioxidant ability (96.32%). Next, the possible effect of the extracts onCandida albicansstrains was studied using agar diffusion method and subjected to various extracts concentrations. The zone sizes of growth inhibition showed clearly that these extracts had a good antifungal activity againstCandida albicansspecies in the following order: CA1 > CA3 > CA2 with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range 0.97–1.94 mg/ml. Images obtained by scanning electron microscopy allowed for a qualitative assessment of the biofilm reduction.