In vitro antibacterial, cytotoxicity and haemolytic activities and phytochemical analysis of seagrasses from the Gulf of Mannar, South India

It is essential to study the phytochemical constituents and toxicological properties of seagrasses when considering their food applications. Aqueous methanolic extracts of six seagrasses were evaluated for their antibacterial, cytotoxic (brine shrimp leathality assay) and haemolytic activity. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and phytochemical analysis were used to compare the phytochemical profiles of six seagrasses. Among the six seagrasses examined, Halodule pinifolia and Cymodocea rotundata showed predominant growth inhibitory activity against all the tested human pathogens. Cytotoxicity of seagrass extracts against nauplii of Artemia sauna revealed that Syringodium isoetifolium exhibited lesser toxicity with LC50 value of 699.096 mu g/ml. Of all the seagrasses tested, H. pinifolia recorded the minimum haemolytic activity of 2.07 +/- 0.63% at 1000 mu g/ml concentration. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of common plant chemical constituents which varied with respect to species. The present findings suggest the possible pharmacological applications of selected seagrasses that can be used as food ingredients. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.