Screening of phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity of Caulerpa scalpelliformis collected from Manapad Coast,Tuticorin District,Tamilnadu,South India

Objective:To analyse the phytochemicals,elements and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Caulerpa scalpelliformis(C.scalpelliformis)against different bacterial and fungal pathogens.Methods:For the elemental analysis and the screening of phytochemicals,some common and available standard tests were done.The antimicrobial activity was done through the agar well diffusion method.Results:In the qualitative phytochemical screening,among the five different solvent extracts of C.scalpelliformis,the benzene extract showed a maximum number of compounds such as tannins,flavanoids,glycosides,phenols,saponins,terpenoids,etc.The quantitative analysis showed the total protein,total carbohydrate and total lipid content to be(15.86±1.13)%w/w,(10.32±0.94)%w/w,and(1.05±0.08)%w/w respectively.The antibacterial activity showed a maximum zone of inhibition(15±0.18)mm and a minimum zone of inhibition(6±0.05)mm in the benzene extract of C.scalpelliformis exhibited against Serratia marcescens and Bacillus subtilis.The antifungal assay of C.scalpelliformis showed the benzene extract rendered a maximum activity(20±0.25)mm against Aspergillus terreus whereas a minimum activity(12±0.14)mm obtained in the chloroform extract against Aspergillus flavus.Conclusions:Our findings provide the evidence that the benzene extract of C.scalpelliformis possesses the good antimicrobial activity and hence the algae proves to be an effective therapeutic agent.