It would appear modern medicine has found another medical use for pomegranate.

Pomegranate has been touted for some time as a superfood, and for good reason.  Studies conducted at a variety of institutions have demonstrated pomegranate can: lower blood pressure, reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation and plaque accumulation as well as reduce vascular inflammation. (see Pomegranate juice: a heart-healthy fruit juice).  In addition, its also been shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer.

But now, it would appear pomegranate has yet another trick up its sleeve – it can be an effective treatment for MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Research recently published in the British Journal of Biomedical Science and BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found pomegranate rind can be turned into an ointment and combined with vitamin C and metal salts to create a powerful anti-MRSA treatment.

“We have developed a topical ointment that can successfully attack a range of drug-resistant microbes. It’s a breakthrough and a striking example of the effectiveness of adding more components to create a more active product,” team leader Declan Naughton said in a university news release.

He further added,

“The increase in drug-resistant infections found in hospitals has made our research topical and pressing. The idea of using a foodstuff is unusual and means that the body should be able to cope more easily with its application; patients are less likely to experience any major side effects.”

I think Professor Naughton summed it up well when he said, “It shows that nature still has a few tricks up its sleeve.”  But with all due respect Professor, I think Mother Nature has more than a few left.