Abstract
The seaweed (Halimeda tuna) was examined for antibacterial and antifungal activity in vitro using the well diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration. The activity was against 10 bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiella oxytoca, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabillis, Lactobacillus vulgaris, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella pneumonia and Vibrio cholerae)and nine fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternaria, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccossum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Pencillium sp. and Rhizopus sp.). The methanolic extracts in the present study exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity compared to the ethanolic and chloroform extracts. Results of the present study confirm the potential use of seaweed extracts as a source of antimicrobial compound. Key words: Halimeda tuna, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, antimicrobial activity.
Highlights
Seaweeds are considered as a source of bioactive compounds as they are able to produce a great variety of secondary metabolites characterised by a broad spectrum of biological activities
The activity was against 10 bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiella oxytoca, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabillis, Lactobacillus vulgaris, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella pneumonia and Vibrio cholerae) and nine fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternaria, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccossum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Pencillium sp. and Rhizopus sp.)
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 31.25 to 500 μg/ml were obtained for the chloroform and ethanol extract, 15.62 to 250 μg/ml were obtained for the methanol extract in the tests with the bacterial agents, while the range of 15.62 to 250 μg/ml were obtained for the methanol extract with the fungi agents
Summary
Seaweeds are considered as a source of bioactive compounds as they are able to produce a great variety of secondary metabolites characterised by a broad spectrum of biological activities. Antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial activities have been detected in brown, red and green algae (Yuan et al, 2005; Bansemir et al, 2006; Chew et al, 2008). Seaweeds are rich and varied source of bioactive natural products and have been studied as potential biotical and pharmaceutical agents. They are used in traditional remedies in many parts of the world. Extracted substances from seaweeds have antibacterial actions and other properties include antifungal activities and growth inhibition of plants (Abdussalam, 1990; Scheuer, 1990; Rizvi and Shameel, 2003; Su et al, 1973; Burkholder and Sharma, 1969; Chapman, 1980; Arasaki and Arasaki, 1983; Abbott, 1988). The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the seaweed Halimeda tuna against different human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains
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