Anti-human pathogenic potential and compositional studies on the extract of Seastar, Protoreaster lincki (Blainville, 1830) collected from Tuticorin, Southeast Coast, India.

Abstract

Anti-human pathogenic potential of methanolic extract of starfish Protoreaster lincki was bioprospected against ten human pathogens. Also, antibiotic sensitivity using three standard antibiotics viz., Ampicillin, Gentamicin and Piperacillin was determined for a comparative study. Gas Chromatogram-Mass Spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis was carried to identify the total chemical composition and determine the possible chemical components responsible for the antimicrobial activity. Protein content of the extract was 439.78µg.ml-1 and the extract displayed maximum inhibition zone of 9.5±1.3 mm against Bacillus subtilis with MIC of 75µg.ml-1 and minimum inhibition zone of 6.5±1.2, 6.5±0.7 and 6.5±1.3 mm against K. pneumoniae, S. typhimurium and S. sonnei respectively with MIC value of 100µg.ml-1. Antimicrobial activity of the extract is higher than Piperacillin. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of twenty different chemical compounds belonging to broad classes viz., saturated fatty acids, un saturated fatty acids, steroids, carboxylic acids and amides including compounds known to possess potent antimicrobial activity.