Antibacterial and antihemolytic activities of Enteromorpha intestinalis in Caspian Sea Coast, Iran

Abstract

Enteromorpha is one of the filamentous green-algal genus and has a widespread distribution in Caspian Sea Coast. This study aimed at assaying the antimicrobial activities ofEnteromorpha intestinalis in South of Caspian Sea. Antimicrobial activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of five different gram negative and positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus,Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Proteus mirabiliswere investigated. The extract was primarily screened for their possible antimicrobial effects using disc diffusion methods. The potential antibacterial activities at different concentrations of the extract were elucidated. The extract displayed variable degrees of antimicrobial activities on different bacteria. Among gram positive bacteria, the B. subtilis (with wider zones of inhibition) was found to be more sensitive than S. aureus. Among gram negative P. aeruginosa was found to be more resistant than P. mirabilis and S. typhimurium. The extract did not show any harmful effects on erythrocytes and, in fact, exhibited potent antihaemolytic activity with IC50 of 323±11.7 μg ml1 compared with 235±9 μg ml-1 for vitamin C which served as positive control. Extract show antihemolytic activity against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced hemolysis. Our findings suggest the possibility of using the E. intestinalis as a novel source of natural antimicrobial and antihemolytic agent for pharmaceutical industries. Key words: Enteromorpha intestinalis, antibacterial activity, antihemolytic activity.