ANTIBIOTIC-ACTIVITY OF MARINE-ALGAE AGAINST MULTI-ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT-BACTERIA

The antibiotic activity of six species of marine algae (Rhodophyta, Ph aeophyta and Chlorophyta) against multi-antibiotic resistant (MAR) bac teria was investigated. The study shows that various degrees of activi ty were present in 18 out of the 24 algal extracts. The highest activi ty was for Rhodophyta (diameter of the inhibited zone ranged from 10-2 2 mm), whilst the lowest was for Chlorophyta (8-12 mm). The taxonomic trends were seen between extracts, as the best solvents were found to be ether, methanol and acetone for Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and Chloroph yta, respectively. The importance of these results on public health ar e discussed.