European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience
Online ISSN: 2321-9122, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.44
www.biosciencejournals.com
Volume 4; Issue 4; April 2016; Page No. 36-38
Antimicrobial activity of extracts of hepatopancreas and mucus of bivalve, Meretrix meretrix
1
Archana Injal, 2 Somnath Kshirsagar, 3 Mayuresh Dev, 4 Kshitija Parkar, 5 Abida Kazi, 6 Mangesh Chavan, 7 A.S.
Kulkarni
1
3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2
Department of Biotecnology, Walchand College, Solapur
Department of Zoology, Gogate – Jogalekar College, Ratnagiri
Department of Zoology, K.N.Bhise College, Kurduwadi
Abstract
Molluscs are highly delicious sea food. It is used as a staple food by the people live near the coastal area in many parts of world.
They are very good source for bio-medically important products. Among the molluscs some have pronounced pharmacological
activities or other properties which are useful in biomedical area. Molluscs having their own protective mechanism against number
of pathogens. For this protection they secrete number of molecules. The present study investigated the antimicrobial activity of
hepatopancreas extracts and mucus of Meretrix meretrix against pathogens like S. typhi and S. aureus.
Keywords: Meretrix meretrix, Antimicrobial activity, Hepatopancreas
Introduction
Molluscs are invertebrates belonging to Phylum Mollusca.
There are three classes of Phylum Mollusca, namely class
Bivalvia, class Cephalopoda and class Gastropoda, are
important, so far as molluscs are concerned. The class
Bivalvia consists commercially important animals. Bivalves
are considered as delicacy in several countries all over the
world. However, in India, it is not considered a much relished
food item in most part of country. Bivalves are actually highly
nutritious. They are rich in vitamin A and many B group
vitamins. They also contain adequate amount of protein,
glycogen and many important minerals.
The multicellular animals continuously exposed to various
foreign bodies, including infectious agents like bacteria,
viruses, protozoa, etc. Despite constant exposure to variety of
pathogens, most of the animals remain healthy. The animal
has ability to resist almost all type of foreign bodies. The
system which protects them from various infectious agents is
called immune system. Any foreign substance invading body
and capable of stimulating an immune response, is called an
antigen. The protective chemicals produced by immune cells
in response to antigens are called antibodies.
The mollusc such as bivalves also contains some antibodies to
resists against foreign particle. Antimicrobial peptides are the
important in first line of the host defence system of many
animal species [1]. Their value in innate immunity lies in their
ability of function without either high specificity or memory.
Now-a-days the screening of marine organisms, especially
marine bivalves for therapeutic drugs or greater interest.
Bivalves are widely used in world research institution for
various studies, but only recently they have been recognized
as a potential source of anti-bacterial and antifungal
substances. The potential of the marine bivalve as a source of
biologically active products is largely unexplored. Hence, a
broad based screening of marine bivalves for bioactive
compounds is necessary.
For the experimentation as a organ Hepatopancreas was
selected. Hepatopancreas is the one of the important site
where majority of enzymes, proteins and biological active
compounds are synthesized. Along with this for protection
mollusc also secretes mucus. Mucus having their own
importance in various biological activities. Due to this, in the
present investigation Hepa to pancreas and mucus were
selected to check their antibacterial activity.
Materials and Methods
Live specimens of bivalves (Meretrix meretrix), has been
collected from Sakhartar estuary of Ratnagiri, west coast of
India.
Extraction method
The collected fresh bivalves were dissected and
hepatopancreas was separated. During dissection mucus was
also collected in separate sterile glass test tube. The
homogenate of dissected organ
Was prepared in the sterile distilled water. Centrifuged the
homogenate at 5000 rpm for 15 min and supernatant was
collected. This Supernatant was used for checking
antimicrobial activity.
Microbial Strains Used
Antimicrobial activity of hepatopancreas and mucus was
determined against 2 bacterial strains namely Salmonella typhi
and Staphylococcus aureus. These strains were obtained from
microbiology department of Gogate-Jogalekar College,
Ratnagiri.
Antimicrobial assay
The spectrum of antibacterial and antifungal activity was
investigated by using the standard technique [2]. Antibacterial
and antifungal activity was expressed in terms of diameter of
36 zone of inhibition was measured in mm using scale and
recorded it separately.
The highest antimicrobial activity of hepatopancreas extract
was recorded against S. typhi and the zone of inhibition was
11.8 mm while against S. aureus it was 6.8 mm
Results
Invertebrates lack antibody-mediated humoral immune
Systems; however, they are believed to possess efficient host
defense mechanisms involving humoral defense molecules
that are similar in function to antibodies. Lysozymes are a
group of enzymes that cleave the glycosidic bonds between Nacetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine (two amino
sugars) in the peptidoglycans that form bacterial cell walls. In
bivalves, lysozymes are especially important antibacterial
molecules because of their bactericidal ability. Recently, the
presence of multiple lysozymes has been found in several
species of bivalve molluscs such as the blue mussel, Mytilus
edulis, and the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (3).
The organ extract of Meretrix meretrix showed antimicrobial
activity against S. typhi and S. aureus. The zone of inhibition
showed by mucus against S. typhi was 9 mm while for S.
aureus 4.2mm.
Meretrix meretrix
Antimicrobial effect of different organ extract
Discussion
Antimicrobial activity has been observed against some
bacterial and fungal strains. The methanol fraction of P. viridis
gill extraction shows activity against both bacterial and fungal
Strains [4]. In antibacterial activity the maximum zone of
inhibition was observed in S. paratyphi strain. The maximum
antifungal activity was observed against Aspergillus flavus and
minimum activity was recorded in Mucor sp [4] similar result
37 was reported in four bivalves against few pathogens and found
that extracts showed significant activity against Bacillus
subtillus [5]. Likewise highest activity was observed against S.
typhi in some gastropods [6]. The antibacterial activities of
ethanol extracts of gastropods Babylonia spirata and turbo
brunneus was observed maximum activity against E. coli, K.
pneumoniae, P. vulgaris and S. typhi [6]. It was reported that
the acetone fractions of mollusc Pteria chinensis exhibited
broad spectral organism’s antibacterial activity [7]. In
traditional Indian medicine, especially sidha medical
preparations, the opercula of gastropods are used as an
ingredient to combat different diseases [8].
This study was collaborated the result of the present
investigation. Similar to this maximum antibacterial activity
against S. aureus and S. typhi on Meretrix meretrix was
recorded.
Conclusion
Normally antibiotics are highly effective to neutralize the
bacterial and fungal infection. But problem of use of
antibiotics is their ‘side effects’. So the product from natural
resource is good for health and there are any side effects of
them. The bivalve, Meretrix meretrix shows antibacterial
activity against pathogens, S. aureus and S. typhi therefore the
bivalve species Meretrix meretrix as food, useful in treatment
against infections caused by S. aureus and S. typhi.
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