SCREENING OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF NATURALLY OCCURRING FRESHWATER FILAMENTOUS GREEN ALGAE CLADOPHORA GLOMERATA COLLECTED FROM BIRBHUM DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA.

Abstract

Microalgae have been recognized in the last several years as source of novel anti-viral, anti-algal, antibacterial and antifungal metabolites. Cladophora glomerata is a branched filamentous green algae commonly found in freshwater bodies. The aim of the present work is to study the antimicrobial screening of the cell extracts of naturally occurring freshwater green algae Cladophora glomerata against clinically significant microorganisms both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and pathogenic fungi. In this study four test pathogens were considered, these test bacterial strains were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and fungal strain was Candida krusei. Crude metabolites were extracted using four different solvents namely chloroform, methanol, butanol and petroleum benzene. The antimicrobial activities of crude extracts were evaluated using agar cup diffusion methods. Among the solvents highest antimicrobial activity was detected in methanol extracts against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, i.e. Bacillus subtilis (19.66±0.57 mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.66±0.57 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (15.33±0.57 mm) respectively. Moderate activity were detected in chloroform extract against Bacillus subtilis (14.00±0.57 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.33±1.00 mm) respectively. The less activity was detected in petroleum benzene extract against Staphylococcus aureus (10.66±1.00 mm) and no activity was found against fungal pathogen Candida krusei. The present finding that may serve as leads for the development of new pharmaceuticals addressing the novel therapeutic needs of mankind. It is concluded that the branched filamentous green algae Cladophora glomerata occurring in natural freshwater bodies represents a new source of antimicrobial formulation with stable and biologically active compounds. Keywords: Cladophora glomerata, Freshwater bodies, Solvent extracts, Antimicrobial potential.