Antifouling Potential of Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabellifer) Fruit Husk Extract

The commercially valuable and nutritionally enriched fruits of Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) have many health benefits, and also they are considered as a source for medicines. In the current research, the bioactivity (antibacterial and antiadhesion) of the fruit husk extract of Palmyra palm was tested against biofilm-forming bacteria Alteromonas sp and Pseudomonas sp. In addition, an antifouling coat was prepared by incorporating the Palmyra palm fruit husk extract into epoxy resin and its antifouling property was evaluated against marine biofoulers. The obtained results indicated that the Palmyra palm fruit husk extract has the potential to inhibit the settlement of marine microfoulers (bacteria and microalgae) and macrofoulers (barnacles and tubeworms). The bioactive fraction of Palmyra palm fruit husk extracts isolated using thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of 15 compounds including the groups of fatty acids, ketones, and cyanides in the GC–MS analysis. According to the findings of the present study, Palmyra palm fruit husk could be used as the source for the isolation of an effective eco-friendly antifouling agent. © 2020, The National Academy of Sciences, India.