The increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance to conventional disinfectants and antibiotics has intensified the search for effective, natural alternatives in the dairy industry. This study evaluates the bactericidal efficacy of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) peel ethanolic extract, focusing on its application in pre- and post-dipping procedures for mastitis prevention. The extract exhibited potent activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, two major mastitis pathogens. At a concentration of 10 mg/mL, the extract induced significant membrane disruption within 30 s of exposure, as evidenced by propidium iodide uptake and elevated extracellular DNA levels (Escherichia coli: 64.25 ng/μL; Staphylococcus aureus: 83.25 ng/μL) compared to controls (11.20 ng/μL and 35.20 ng/μL, respectively; p < 0.05). Complete growth inhibition (100%) was achieved within 30 s at 25 and 50 mg/mL, matching the efficacy of commercial chlorhexidine and high-concentration hypochlorite. Phytochemical analysis identified punicalagin as the predominant bioactive compound. These findings establish Punica granatum peel extract as a fast-acting bactericidal agent, exhibiting an efficacy comparable to or exceeding that of conventional disinfectants. Its rapid action and plant-based origin highlight its potential as a viable alternative for the prevention and control of bovine mastitis in dairy farming.

Background: The current research aimed to explore secondary metabolites and antibacterial activity against bacterial agents associated with bovine mastitis from extracts prepared from the peel of fruits of Punica granatum L.. Mastitis is an inflammation in the mammary gland mainly due to infection of bacteria and can be presented clinically or subclinically. The infectious bovine mastitis disease is associated with the reduction and changes in the composition of the milk, as well as in the early disposal of the animal. Objective: We describe the bactericidal activity of ethanolic extracts of the fruit peel of P. granatum, against etiological agents of bovine mastitis (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae). Method: The bactericidal activity was evaluated according to the standards of the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and by the broth microdilution methodology according to the standards of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The fruit peel extracts of P. granatum were prepared with ethanol solvent (90%). Results: The best results of total inhibition of bacterial growth of the three strains tested were obtained with the concentrations of 75mg/mL of the extract after 1 and 3 hours of treatment. Cell membrane integrity analysis by flow cytometry showed that 1 h of contact there was loss of integrity of the wall and cell membranes. Conclusion: We can suggest that the ethanolic extract of the fruit peel of P. granatum can be an important natural coadjutant compound in the treatment of mastitis as well as being used in the formulation of sanitizers.

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland of dairy cattle, and it significantly affects the dairy sector. Its frequent treatment is the use of antibiotics, but they cause several problems, such as the formation of resistant pathogens. Hence, one treatment option is the use of medicinal plant-based products. Brazil is among the largest cattle breeders. It has a rich floristic diversity, and there is widespread knowledge about the therapeutic properties of plants. This study provides a patent map that is derived from Brazil's INPI online database (Brazilian Patent Office). There were 109 patent applications related to mastitis, being 17 patent applications with medicinal plants to treat this disease. Brazil was the largest depositor of patent applications with 37 requests, followed by the United States with 22 applications. The most frequent International Patent Classification was A61K31. Companies are the main applicants, but Science and Technology Institutions showed a significant participation among patent applications that contained medicinal plants in their composition. A patent map is a useful tool for identifying possible technological opportunities.

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a major challenge for both human and veterinary health, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Bovine mastitis remains one of the most economically significant infectious diseases affecting dairy production worldwide. In this narrative review, we examine current evidence regarding the antibacterial potential of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) and its major bioactive constituents, particularly punicalagin, against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Recent studies indicate that pomegranate-derived extracts possess antibacterial activity against several mastitis-associated organisms, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Experimental evidence suggests that punicalagin may contribute to membrane destabilization, increased membrane permeability, interference with biofilm formation, and modulation of bacterial stress-response pathways, although the relative importance of these mechanisms appears to vary among bacterial species and experimental systems. Several studies have also reported synergistic interactions between pomegranate-derived compounds and conventional antibiotics against selected multidrug-resistant pathogens. Despite these promising findings, the current evidence remains dominated by in vitro investigations, while in vivo efficacy, pharmacokinetic characterization, toxicological assessment, and clinical validation remain limited.

Ionizing radiation induces oxidative and genotoxic stress through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, resulting in cellular lipid and DNA damage. This study evaluated the radiomodifying activity of an ethanolic pomegranate peel extract (Punica granatum L.) using ex vivo Wistar rat liver homogenates and primary lymphocyte cultures. Liver homogenates were exposed to 1–6 Gy X-rays, and lipid peroxidation was assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Lymphocyte cultures were exposed to 10 Gy and evaluated using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Post-irradiation treatment with 1250 µg/mL extract decreased the median MDA value from 42.3 to 27.1 nmol/g wet tissue, corresponding to a 35.9% reduction relative to the irradiated untreated control (p < 0.05). In irradiated lymphocyte cultures, treatment with 5, 2.5, and 0.1 mg/mL extract yielded median percentages of micronucleated binucleated cells of 32.0%, 38.0%, and 42.0%, respectively, compared with 56.0% in the irradiated untreated control. The significant reduction occurred at 5 mg/mL (42.9%; p < 0.001). No significant increase in this endpoint was observed in non-irradiated extract-treated cultures. These findings highlight the ex vivo models as a useful platform for preliminary screening of botanical extracts, bioactive compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations before in vivo evaluation.