Authors : Z.A. Nurul, I. Darah, S.F. Shaida and S.A. Nor
Abstract: The antimicrobial activities of eight crude extracts of local Acanthophora spicifera (Vahl) Borgesen acquired from two different extraction; soxhlet extraction and solvent partitioning were studied. These extracts were tested in vitro against 18 bacteria, 3 yeasts and 6 fungi strains by Disc diffusion method. The results revealed that methanol and ethyl acetate extract from solvent partitioning exhibited broader spectrum activity against tested bacterial strains. This two extracts showed inhibition zones against strains of Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 12759, Menthicilin Resistance Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Yersinia sp. and Citrobacter freundii. While methanol extracts from Soxhlet extraction and butanol from solvent partitioning had no effect against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, the other six extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against this opportunistic strain. Extracts showed a moderate average zone of inhibition ranged from 9.00-14.00 mm. Yersinia sp. showed the higher inhibition zones of 12.00 mm. However, no antifungal activity observed against tested strains of yeasts and fungi. The MIC and MBC values of selected bacterial strains tested ranged from 31.25-1000 μg mL-1 and 500-2000 μg mL-1.
Z.A. Nurul, I. Darah, S.F. Shaida and S.A. Nor, 2010. Screening for Antimicrobial Activity of Various Extracts of Acanthophora spicifera(Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) from Malaysian Waters. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 368-375.