Antibacterial activities of salt marsh plants against marine ornamental fish pathogens

Abstract

An ornamental fish health issue has become an urgent requirement for the sustaining growth of marine ornamental industry. Salt marshes are extremely important medicinal plant for a variety of reasons. The present investigation, five different salt marsh plants were selected (Arthrocnemum indicum, Helitropium curassavicum, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Salicornia brachiata and Sesuvium portulacastrum) and crude extracts were prepared with three different solvents (aqueous, methanol and diethyl ether) and the crude extracts were tested against six fish bacterial pathogens isolated from marine aquarium (Escherichia coli, Aeromonas sp., Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescence and Vibrio paraheamolyticus). The methanolic extracts of all salt marsh plants showed maximum zone of inhibition against Aeromonas sp. (14 mm) and minimum was observed in followed by moderate activity from diethyl ether extracts (3 to12 mm) and the aqueous extracts (2 to 10 mm) showed comparatively poor activity against all fish pathogens. The methanolic crude extracts of five salt marsh plants control the Aeromonas species. Methanolic extract of Helitropium curassavicum and Salicornia brachiata were estimated significant effective antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains. Helitropium curassavicum and Salicornia brachiata activity were reported relatively nearer to the tetracycline compound. © 2013 Academic Journals Inc.