Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) in Green Seaweeds against Diarrhea Causing Bacteria E. Coli and S. Typhi

Diarrhea is one of the most common complaints faced by internists and primary care physicians and accounts for many referrals to gastroenterologists. Acute infective diarrhea contributes to the high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Diarrhea constitutes 70% of food borne disease. Seaweeds have been frequently used medicinally in past and present. These plants have antibacterial activity against diarrhea causing organisms Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. The aim of present work was to evaluated and compared the antimicrobial activity of ethanol and acetone extracts of eight green seaweeds species Caulerpa scalpelliformis, Codium iyengarii, C. shameelii, Enteromorpha compressa, Udotea indica, Ulva fasciata, U. lactuca and Valoniopsis pachynema against diarrhea and multidrug-resistance E. coli and S. typhi.

The average MICs values of tested green seaweeds both ethanol and acetone extract for tested bacteria E. coli and S. typhi ranged from 5mg/ml to 30mg/ml. While the average MBCs values of tested green seaweeds both ethanol and acetone extract for both tested bacteria E. coli and S. typhi ranged from 10mg/ml to 40mg/ml. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first report from Pakistan that studied seaweed containing inhibitory compounds. Data from this study show that green seaweeds are the potential antimicrobial agents against diarrhea causing organisms E. coli and S. typhi.

Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, seaweeds, diarrhea, E. coli and S. typhi, Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).