Abstract
Marine invertebrates constitute a diverse group of marine organisms beneficial to humanity due to their therapeutic significance. The marine sponge species Psammaplysilla sp. 1 was collected from Philips Reef, South Africa, over a four-season period and assayed for antimicrobial potential. The physicochemical parameters of the collection site were also recorded. The sponge crude extracts' antimicrobial activity was evaluated using an agar well diffusion assay against 5 pathogens. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the presence of 7 critical phytochemical groups. During the four seasons, the mean water temperature was 17.35°C ± 2.06, with autumn recording the highest (20°C) temperature. Antifungal activity was observed by Psammaplysilla sp. 1 (30 mm) against C. albicans, and this was higher than that showed by standard drugs ICZ-10 µg (15 ± 0.1 mm), FLU-15 µg (21 ± 0.2 mm), and VCZ-5 µg (17 ± 0.1 mm), respectively. Similar bioactivities were observed seasonally with Psammaplysilla sp. 1 (22 mm and 24 mm) during autumn and spring, respectively, against C. difficile while only crude extracts collected in spring showed bioactivity against C. albicans. Psammaplysilla sp. crude extracts showed broad-spectrum bioactivity against all test pathogens. DCM : ME crude extracts tested positive for the presence of 2/7 of the phytochemicals (terpenoids and flavonoids). GC-MS revealed several previously reported biologically active compounds such bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-ol and phenol, 2,6-dibromo, some of which have been found in plants. This study revealed that sponge bioactivity is dependent on the season and further validated the antimicrobial potential of South African marine sponges.
Highlights
Nature has been identified as a good source of vast medically significant compounds for many years [1]
To further support the antimicrobial potential observed from sponges in previous studies, Lakshimi et al [7] reported that the sponge Haliclona exigua produced promising antifungal compounds against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus
No clear-cut differences in pH recordings were observed for all sampling seasons as the mean pH reading for all four seasons ranged from 8 to 8.78. e same was observed for the salinity readings that ranged between 35.12 psu and 35.47 psu for all four seasons. e average dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was different across all four seasons, with the winter season recording the highest DO (7 mg L− 1), while the spring season recorded the lowest DO (5 mg L− 1). e turbidity of Phillips Reef was high during the spring season, with average turbidity of approximately 3 NTU, while the autumn season recorded the lowest turbidity of approximately 1 NTU
Summary
Nature has been identified as a good source of vast medically significant compounds for many years [1]. E marine environment provides a possible source of antimicrobial compounds due to its vast diversity, with its organisms representing approximately 80% of the world’s biota [3]. Marine sponges belonging to the phylum Porifera [4] are significant animals that have been reported to be a source of unique natural products ranging from food, fragrances, pigments, enzymes, inhibitors, insecticides, and essential medicines such. 10,000 pharmacologically bioactive compounds were successfully reported from marine invertebrates such as tunicates, sponges, soft corals, sea hares, nudibranchs, bryozoans, and sea slugs [6]. Bioactive metabolites obtained from the sponge genera Helicona, Petrosia, and Discodema were reported to be potent anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents, respectively. To further support the antimicrobial potential observed from sponges in previous studies, Lakshimi et al [7] reported that the sponge Haliclona exigua produced promising antifungal compounds against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus
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