ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF CAULERPA SCALPELLIFORMIS (R. BROWN EX TURNER) C.AGARDH FROM THE GULF OF MANNAR SOUTH EAST COAST OF INDIA

Kotteswari, M., Shanthi, N., Elamvaluthi, M and Murugesan, S*

ABSTRACT

The antibacterial activities of methanolic extract of marine alga Caulerpa scalpelliformis (R. Brown ex Turner) C.Agardh from Mandapam, Ramnad District, South East Coast of Tamilnadu were tested against Gram positive strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus and Gram-negative strains Klebsiella pneumonia, Escharichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. The results of the present study demonstrated that the methanolic extract of Caulerpa scalpelliformis exhibited the antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It was observed that the extract of Caulerpa scalpelliformis recorded the maximum activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Keywords: Caulerpa scalpelliformis, antimicrobial activity, Disc diffusion method.