Algae. 1986; 1(1): 293-310.

Antimicrobial Activity of the Volatile and Lipid Fractions of Marine Algae

Seung-Eok Baik, Jae-Won Kang

Dr. Baik's Oriental Clinic and Department of Marine Biology, National Fisheries University of Pusan

Antimicrobial activities of seven species of marine algae, one Chlorophyceae (Ulva pertusa), two Phaeophyceae (Sargassum sagamianum and Laminaria religiosa) and four Rhodophyceae (Pterocladia tenuis, Gelidium amansii, Pachymeniopsis elliptica and Chondrus ocellatus) were investigated. General components, free amino acid content, amino acid composition of proteins, and minerals of the algae were analyzed. Using three strains of gram positive, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Sarcina Iutea, and three strains of Gram negative, Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, antimicrobial activity was determined by paper-disc method on the four fractions, neutral, basic, phenolic, and acidic of the volatiles, and on the three fractions of lipid, namely neutral, glycolipid and phospholipid fractions. The neutral fractions of the volatiles from all the samples showed a strong activity on the six test strains with somewhat higher activity against Gram positive than Gram negative strains. Most of basic fractions of the volatiles showed no activity except in cases o f Sargassum sagamianum and Laminaria religiosa against Bacillus subtilis, and Pterocladia tenuis against Staphylococcus aureus. Phenolic and acidic fractions were all positive to some extent of activity depending n sample and test strains. Netural lipid fractions revealed a markable activity on all the test strains, with some more activity against Gram positive strains, and particularly those cases of Ulva pertusa and Chondrus ocellatus against Staphylococcus aureus and Gelidium amansii against Bacillus subtilis. Glycolipid and phospholipid fractions were variable in antimicrobial activity. Approximate composition of the algae was in range of 56-71% carbohydrate, 2.1-2.3% crude protein, 1.1-1.8% pure protein, 0.1-0.5% lipid, 6.6-29.9% ash, and 172.7-274.7 calorie respectively. Contents of calcium, phosphorus and iron were 248-1260 mg/100g, 3.3-9.2 mg/100g and 0.5-17 mg/100g respectively. In amino acid composition of the seaweed proteins hydrolyzed with acid, the content of aspartic acid and glutamic acid was remarkably higher, while that of cysteine, methionine and histidine were lower.

Keywords : Algal volatile and lipid, antimicrobial activity of seaweeds