Antimicrobial Activity of Sarcophaga carnaria (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) Maggots' Body Extracts

Abstract

The present study evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Sarcophaga carnaria maggots' body different extracts. The extraction was carried out using petroleum ether, hexane, acetone and ethyl acetate. The obtained results revealed that all S. carnariamaggots' tested extracts evoked a variable activity against both Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) depending on the solvent used in extraction. The highest antibacterial activity (growth- inhibition zone) was 17.0±0.55 and 16.4±0.61mm obtained by petroleum ether extract against S .aureus and S. pyogenes (Gram-positive bacteria). Meanwhile, petroleum ether, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts showed growth-inhibition zone of 16.0±0.46, 15.4±0.50 and 16.2±0.45mm against B. subtilis, respectively, compared with 28.2±0.33mm for the standard (Ampicillin). Also, acetone extract of S. carnaria maggots’ whole body exhibited no activity against all tested Gram- negative bacterial strains tested. Generally, petroleum ether extraction of S. carnariamaggots' whole body was the most effective against different bacteria species followed by hexane, ethyl acetate and acetone extractions. Also, Gram-positive bacterial strains were more sensitive to S. carnariamaggots' extracts than Gram-negative bacterial strains. In addition, petroleum ether and hexane extracts of S. carnaria maggots' whole body showed a variable antifungal activity against A. flavus, A. fumigatus, C. albicans andG. candidum fungal strains, whereas both acetone and ethyl acetate extracts from S. carnaria maggots’ whole body showed no activity against all tested fungi species