Pomegranate Extract Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Growth
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Start Date
4-12-2019 12:30 PM
End Date
4-12-2019 1:30 PM
Description of Program
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Abstract
Pomegranates have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and through repeated experiments have been shown to slow down the growth of viruses and bacteria, in some cases inhibiting them completely. Staphylococcus aureus is one bacterium that has been able to build its resistance against modern medicine over the past century. The purpose of this experiment is to see if pomegranate extract can inhibit S. aureus growth. Data will be collected from spectrophotometer and plate counting. In order to perform this experiment, Brain Heart Infusion broth (BHI broth) was diluted with pomegranate extract into 6 tubes to obtain various concentrations. Dilutions used were 1:1, 4:5, 3:5, 2:5, 1:5, and a control that contained specifically BHI broth. While preparing dilution, S. aureus cells were cultured and added to each tube. The tubes were left in an incubator for 24 hours. The next morning, 100 micro liters was taken from each set of tubes and plated on prepared BHI agar plates for growth. Spectrophotometer readings and growth was examined over a span of five days. The control group averaged 220 colonies per plate for a serial dilution of 1:10,000. The 1:5 dilutions averaged 157.3 colonies per plate. The 2:5 dilution average 0.667 colonies per plate, 3:5 averaged 5.3 colonies per plate, 4:5 averaged 2 colonies per plate while 1:1 averaged 1.67 colonies per plate. Evidence indicates that pomegranate extract has an inhibitory effect on S. aureus growth. The absorbance of each tube also gradually decreased each day.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Dr. Xiaoyong Chen
Dr. Timothy Gsell
Pomegranate Extract Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Growth
Pomegranates have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and through repeated experiments have been shown to slow down the growth of viruses and bacteria, in some cases inhibiting them completely. Staphylococcus aureus is one bacterium that has been able to build its resistance against modern medicine over the past century. The purpose of this experiment is to see if pomegranate extract can inhibit S. aureus growth. Data will be collected from spectrophotometer and plate counting. In order to perform this experiment, Brain Heart Infusion broth (BHI broth) was diluted with pomegranate extract into 6 tubes to obtain various concentrations. Dilutions used were 1:1, 4:5, 3:5, 2:5, 1:5, and a control that contained specifically BHI broth. While preparing dilution, S. aureus cells were cultured and added to each tube. The tubes were left in an incubator for 24 hours. The next morning, 100 micro liters was taken from each set of tubes and plated on prepared BHI agar plates for growth. Spectrophotometer readings and growth was examined over a span of five days. The control group averaged 220 colonies per plate for a serial dilution of 1:10,000. The 1:5 dilutions averaged 157.3 colonies per plate. The 2:5 dilution average 0.667 colonies per plate, 3:5 averaged 5.3 colonies per plate, 4:5 averaged 2 colonies per plate while 1:1 averaged 1.67 colonies per plate. Evidence indicates that pomegranate extract has an inhibitory effect on S. aureus growth. The absorbance of each tube also gradually decreased each day.