Comparative study on antibacterial activity of ascidians, Polyandrocarpa indica Michaelsen and Phallusia arabica Savigny from Tuticorin coast of India

Marine ascidians contain antibacterial agents of relevance to either antifouling technology or clinical pharmacology. In the present study two ascidians Polyandrocarpa indica and Phallusia arabica were examined for their antibacterial activity against ten bacterial pathogens. Antimicrobial activity of the crude extract of ascidians shows inhibitory activity against almost all the strains. However, methnolic extract of P. arabica shows prominent antibacterial activity against than that of P. indica. Maximum inhibition zone (17 mm) was observed against Salmonella typhi in the crude methanol extract of P. arabica and the minimum inhibition zone (1 mm) was noticed against P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa in the ethyl acetate and diethyl ether extract of P. indica. In P. indica the crude extract range of inhibition of bacteria varied from 1-12 mm. Based on observed zone of inhibition, present study revealed that P. arabica extract are more effective than P. indica.