title: Asparagopsis armata and Sphaerococcus coronopifolius as a natural source of antimicrobial compounds.
abstract: Methanol, n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts of twelve marine macro-algae (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta and Heterokontophyta divisions) from Peniche coast (Portugal) were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activity. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion method against Bacillus subtilis (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli (gram negative bacteria). Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model for the antifungal activity by evaluating the growth inhibitory activity of the extracts. The high antibacterial activity was obtained by the Asparagopsis armata methanolic extract (10 mm-0.1 mg/disc), followed by the Sphaerococcus coronopifolius n-hexane extract (8 mm-0.1 mg/disc), and the Asparagopsis armata dichloromethane extract (12 mm-0.3 mg/disc) against Bacillus subtilis. There were no positive results against Escherichia coli. Sphaerococcus coronopifolius revealed high antifungal potential for n-hexane (IC50 = 40.2 µg/ml), dichloromethane (IC50 = 78.9 µg/ml) and methanolic (IC50 = 55.18 µg/ml) extracts against Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth. The antifungal potency of the Sphaerococcus coronopifolius extracts was similar with the standard amphotericin B. Asparagopsis armata and Sphaerococcus coronopifolius reveal to be interesting sources of natural compounds with antimicrobial properties.
authors.affiliation: Marine Resources Research Group (GIRM), ESTM, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susete
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinteus
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011174:Portugal; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002457:Cell Extracts