The Antibiotic Activity Of Some Aquatic Plants And Algal Extracts From Jordan

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of the extracts of three fresh water green algae, four marine green algae, two brown marine algae and five red marine algae from the Jordanian part of the Aqaba Gulf, together with four aquatic higher plants were screened against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zones were observed and measured from the margin of the well containing the plant extract to the beginning of the bacterial growth on nutrient agar plates. The fresh water algae extracts showed the highest antimicrobial activity against both indicator bacteria, while the marine algae were active against Staph. aureus only. The green algae were the most effective followed by the brown and red marine algae. The extracts of Lemna minor, Potamogeton sp., Nastorium officinale and Apium nodiflorum were also active against Staph. aureus only.