AIM: to assess and compare the antibacterial activity of punicagranatum extract with chlorhexidinegluconate 0.2% against prevotella intermedia, porphyromonas gingivalis and aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Materials and Method: In this in vitro study antibacterial activity of punica granatum extract was assessed on subgingival plaque samples which were collected from 30 subjects from which periodontal pathogens were isolated and incubated which were then treated with punica granatum extract (group 1) and chlorhexidine gluconate (group 2) for 10, 30 and 60 minutes respectively and incubated to check the zone of inhibition. Results: punica granatum extract in the present study was found to be equally effective as chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% and no significant difference was observed in the zone of inhibition between the two. Also, as the duration of exposure of plaque samples to punica granatum extract in vitro increased, the number of bacterial colonies reduced. Conclusion: from the findings of the present study it may be concluded that punica granatum extract is effective against major periodontal pathogens
