ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY OF COMMONLY FOUND MICROALGAE SPIRULINA PLATENSIS, NOSTOC MUSCORUM AND CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA AGAINST SOME PATHOGENIC BACTERIA AND FUNGI

In the present study, three algal species (Spirulina platensis, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Nostoc muscorum (ATCC 2789) were used to investigate their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties against some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus and fungus Aspergillus luchuensis, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum). Four different solvents namely methanol, acetone, n-hexane and water were used for extraction. The present investigation showed that methanolic extract was more effective against the pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Methanolic extract of C. pyrenoidosa and N. muscorum was found to be most effective against P. aeruginosa while methanolic extract of S. platensis showed maximum activity against S. aureus. S. platensis showed maximum antifungal activity in comparison to other algal extracts. Antioxidant activity was determined by free radical scavenging activity (Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity) and it was found that methanolic extract of S. platensis showed maximum antioxidant activity.