Abstract

Objective: To identify the possible antiplasmodial drugs from bacteria associated with marine sponge Clathria vulpina (C. vulpina). Methods: The C. vulpina samples were collected from Thondi coast and subjected to enumeration and isolation of associated bacteria. Filtered and sterilized extracts (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 毺 g/mL) from bacterial isolates were screened for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Potential extracts were also screened for biochemical constituents. Results: Thirty one bacterial isolates were isolated from twelve sponge samples collected from Thondi coast and screened for antiplasmodial assay. The count of bacterial strains were maximum in November 2007 (19暳 104 CFU/g) and the average count was maximum during the monsoon season (110暳 103 CFU/g). The antiplasmodial activity of isolate THB15 was highly comparable (IC50 = 20.73 毺 g/mL) with the positive control chloroquine (IC50 = 19.59 毺 g/mL) and 21 bacterial isolates showed IC 50 value of more than 100 毺 g/mL. Statistical analysis reveals that, significant in vitro antiplasmodial activity (P<0.05) was observed between the concentrations and time of exposure. The chemical injury to erythrocytes showed no morphological changes in erythrocytes by the ethyl acetate extract of bacterial isolates after 48 h of incubation. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity might be due to the presence of sugars and alkaloids in the ethyl acetate extracts of bacterial isolates. Conclusions: The ethyl acetate extract of THB15 possesses lead compounds for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.

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