SCREENING OF TURBINARIA FOR THE PRESENCE AND STABILITY OF ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOUNDS

Bany Joy* and Manju Kuruvilla

ABSTRACT

Seaweed of Phaeophyceae namely, Turbinaria sp was collected from the South Eastern Coast of Tamilnadu (Rameshwaram). The extracts were subjected to antimicrobial assay by agar well diffusion method. Clinical isolates of two gram positive (Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp), five gram negative (Proteus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Klebsiella sp, E.coli, and Salmonella sp) and one fungal strain Candida albicans) were used for the antimicrobial assay. Large inhibitory zone against Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp, Proteus sp, Klebsiella sp and E.coli was formed by ethanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of Turbinaria sp was and ethanol extracts of Turbinaria sp showed a good inhibitory zone against Candida albicans. Thin layer chromatography analysis for all extracts were performed for better resolution of the compounds using methanol-chloroform (1:1). Silica gel column chromatography of the chloroform and ethanol extracts of Turbinaria sp was done for partial purification of antimicrobial compounds since these compounds have better antimicrobial activity. The different fractions obtained from column chromatography were tested for antimicrobial activity. Fractions 2-11 of ethanol extract and 1-11 of chloroform extract of Turbinaria sp was active against various isolates. Stability of the antimicrobial compounds was tested for a period of one and a half months and was found to be better in its activity upon storage also.

Keywords: Phaeophyceae, antimicrobial, Turbinaria.