Potential for finding new bioactive agents from selected aquatic plant extracts against enteric bacteria

Abstract EN

Bioassay-directed screening of compounds and extracts is the initial step in the discovery process for new natural chemicals of potential usefulness as antibacterial agents.

In the current research, lipophilic and water soluble extracts of three fresh water macrophytes (Ceratophyllum demersum, Lemna gibba and Potamogeton pectinatus) and a marine macroalga (Enteromorpha prolifera) were screened for antibacterial activity by the single disk method against a group of enteric and sewage bacteria.

The tested bacteria included three Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and three Gram positive bacteria, (Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis).

Cluster analysis indicated that the best results were obtained from extracts of the marine alga against most of the tested bacterial species.

Bacillus sp.

was profoundly affected by all plant extracts, while the other bacteria were affected to a lesser extent.

The results indicated a great potential for finding new bioactive agents from aquatic plants and the antibacterial substances present in the tested aquatic plant extracts could be used to inhibit the growth of some human pathogens.

Further investigations on the analysis and fractionation of such bioactive agents are recommended.