Anti-microbial activity of aqueous extracts from selected Philippine soft coral species

Abstract

Five species of soft corals were collected from Taklong Islands Guimaras and then extracted with water. The aqueous extract was assayed for anti- microbial activity. Potent extracts were tested for its minimal inhibitory concentration against the most sensitive microorganisms. The equivalent potency was also determined using PEN VK as the standard antibiotic. <i>Lobophyton</i> was found to inhibit <i>S. aureus</i> at 50% concentration of the aqueous extract (ATCC 25923) while <i>Sinuloria. sp.</i> was found to inhibit the growth of both <i>S. aureus</i> (ATCC 25923) and <i>B. subtilis</i> (NSRI-1). Aqueous extracts of <i>Lobophyton sp.</i>has an equipotency of 6.64 units/ml of PEN VK against S. aureus, whereas aqueous extracts of <i>Sinulcria sp.</i> has a potency of 104 units/ml of PEN VK against <i>B. subtilis.</i>