Antifungal and antibacterial activity of Porifera extracts from the Moroccan Atlantic coasts

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of marine sponge extracts Agelas clathrodes, Desmapsamma anchorata and Verongula rigida from a Caribbean Island

Although marine sponges are known for their antimicrobial, antifungal and cytotoxic activity, very few studies have been carried out on endemic species of Martinique. Martinique is part of the Agoa Sanctuary, a marine protected area that includes the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the French Caribbean islands, making it an abundant source of marine species. To highlight the potential of this area for the discovery of marine biomolecules with antipathogenic and antitumor activities, we tested the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of sponge species Agelas clathrodes, Desmapsamma anchorata and Verongula rigida. Five bacterial strains: Bacillus cereus (CIP 78.3), Escherichia coli (CIP 54.127), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CIP A22), Staphylococcus aureus (CIP 67.8) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (CIP 76125) were evaluated, as well as four tumor cell lines: breast cancer (MDA-MB231), glioblastoma (RES259) and leukemia (MOLM14 and HL-60). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the disc diffusion technique by determining the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations. Tumor cytotoxic activity was determined in vitro by defining the minimum concentration of extracts that would inhibit cell growth. Ethanolic extracts of Agelas clathrodes were bactericidal for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains, as well as strongly cytotoxic (IC₅₀ < 20 µg/mL) on all cancer cell lines. Verongula rigida also showed strong cytotoxic activity on cell lines but no antimicrobial activity. These results are innovative for this species on these bacterial lines, highlighting the potential of sponge extracts from this area as bioactive compounds sources.

Antifungal and antibacterial activity of marine sponges from Ratnagiri coast of India

Marine sponges have proved to be a rich source of bioactive metabolites with multiple pharmacological properties. In this study, we have investigated the antifungal and antibacterial activities of methanol extracts of Cliona, Haliclona cratera, Hyrtios cavernosus, Spongia obscura, Sarcotragus foetidus, and Xestospongia carbonaria and fractions from X. carbonaria S. obscura and H. cratera. The antibacterial activity was determined by agar disc diffusion method against clinical gram-positive- Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and gram negative- Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The antifungal activity of the extracts and fractions was determined against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. S. obscura, X. carbonaria, H. cavernosus, and H. cratera exhibited good antibacterial activity against the tested gram-positive bacteria with larger zones of inhibition at 19±6 mm, 19.5±5.5mm, 20±0 mm and 23±0 mm. S. foetidus gave good inhibition of gram-negative bacteria at 19±0 mm. They showed moderate antifungal activities against C. albicans and A. niger. Cliona, H. cratera and H. cavernosus gave inhibition with 20±5 mm, 15.5±0.5 mm and 25.5±14.5 mm for A. niger. The MIC for Xc_PE_2, Sob_n but_1 and Hc_n but_3 was determined. H. cavernosus, S. foetidus, S. obscura and X. carbonaria showed presence of fatty acids and sterol type of compounds. The mass of molecular ions in purified fractions helped in characterization of known compounds in H. cratera, X. carbonaria and S. obscura which exhibited good antimicrobial activity.

Activity of Haliscosamine against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis: in vitro and in vivo analysis

Marine sponges are a potential source of new molecules with diverse biological activities. We have previously isolated a sphingosine derivative, (9Z)-2-amino-docos-9-ene-1,3,13,14-tetraol (Haliscosamine) from the Moroccan sea sponge Haliclona viscosa. The aim of this study was to test Haliscosamine in vitro and in vivo for its antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis causing fusarium wilt of melon.

Overall, in vitro test showed that haliscosamine has a similar effect as DESOGERME SP VEGETAUX®. In addition, in vivo showed a significant effect against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis. Taking to gather, our results suggest that haliscosamine constitutes a potential candidate against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis and the possibility to use in phytopathology.

Synthesis of novel coumarin appended bis(formylpyrazole) derivatives: Studies on their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities

A series of novel coumarin pyrazole hybrids of biological interest were synthesized from the hydrazones, carbazones and thiocarbazones via Vilsmeier Haack formylation reaction. These intermediates and formyl pyrazoles were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Among the series, compounds 6g and 6h showed excellent antimicrobial activity against different bacterial and fungal strains and compounds 7g, 7h were found to be potent antioxidant agents in both DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. Further, detailed quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis indicated the molecular parameters that contribute to increased potency of inhibition. The above findings would further encourage our understanding in employing coumarin pyrazole hybrids as potential antibiotic agents for treating infections caused by pathogenic microbes and fungi. Further, it also paves the way for exploration of these compounds as potential therapeutic agents to treat conditions arising because of excessive oxidative damage.

Anti-dermatophytic activity of marine sponge, Sigmadocia carnosa (Dendy) on clinically isolated fungi

OBJECTIVE

To screen the anti-fungal effects and find out the active metabolites from sponge, Sigmadocia carnosa (S. carnosa) against four dermatophytic fungi.

METHODS

The methanol, ethyl acetate and acetone extract of marine sponge, S. carnosa was examined against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (T. mentagrophytes), Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum), Epidermophyton floccosum (E. floccosum) and Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum) and qualitative analysed to find out the active molecules.

RESULTS

The methanol extract of sponge was expressed significant activity than ethyl acetate and acetone. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of methanol extract of sponge that resulted in complete growth inhibition of T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, E. floccosum and M. gypseum were found to 125, 250, 250 and 250 µg/mL respectively. But, 100 % inhibition of fungal spore germination was observed in T. mentagrophytes at 500 µg/mL concentration followed by T. rubrum, E. floccosum and M. gypseum at 1 000 µg/mL concentration. Other two extracts showed weak anti spore germination activity against the tested dermatophytic fungi. Methanol extracts showed presence of terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides.

CONCLUSION

Based on the literature, this is the first study which has conducted to inhibit the growth and spore germination of dermatophytic fungi with S. carnosa. Further research also needs to purify and characterize the secondary metabolites from the sponge, S. carnosa for the valuable source of novel substances for future drug discovery.

Screening of antimicrobial activity of macroalgae extracts from the Moroccan Atlantic coast

The aim of this work is the screening of the antimicrobial activity of seaweed extracts against pathogenic bacteria and yeasts. The antimicrobial activity of the dichloromethane and ethanol extracts of ten marine macroalgae collected from the Moroccan's Atlantic coast (El-Jadida) was tested against two Gram+ (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram- (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) human pathogenic bacteria, and against two pathogenic yeasts (Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans) using the agar disk-diffusion method. Seven algae (70%) of ten seaweeds are active against at least one pathogenic microorganisms studied. Five (50%) are active against the two studied yeast with an inhibition diameter greater than 15 mm for Cystoseira brachycarpa. Six (60%) seaweeds are active against at least one studied bacteria with five (50%) algae exhibiting antibacterial inhibition diameter greater than 15 mm. Cystoseira brachycarpa, Cystoseira compressa, Fucus vesiculosus, and Gelidium sesquipedale have a better antimicrobial activity with a broad spectrum antimicrobial and are a potential source of antimicrobial compounds and can be subject of isolation of the natural antimicrobials.

In vitro screening of antifungal activity of marine sponge extracts against five phytopathogenic fungi

The aim of our research is the screening of extracts of marine sponges for their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi. The in vitro screening of hydroalcoholic and organic extracts of ten marine sponges from Atlantic coast of Morocco against five phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum) showed that only two sponges (Haliclona viscosa and Cynachirella tarentina) are active against all phytopathogenic fungi studied.

Haliscosamine: a new antifungal sphingosine derivative from the Moroccan marine sponge Haliclona viscosa

In the aim of searching for new antifungal products from marine origin, we have isolated a sphingosine derivative, (9Z)-2-amino-docos-9-ene-1,3,13,14-tetraol (Haliscosamine) from the Moroccan sea sponge Haliclona viscosa using bio-guided (antifungal) HPLC methods. The molecular structure of this compound was elucidated by spectrometric techniques IR, UV, MS and NMR. The isolated metabolite showed a significant antifungal activity against Cryptococcus and Candida species and a weak general toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality test. Further research is needed to study its in vivo activity, as well as to elucidate the mechanism underlying its activity in the hope of a future use in medical mycology.

[Bio-guided isolation of an antifungal from Haliclona enamela collected from Jorf Lasfar port, Morocco]

In the context of our search for new biologically active secondary metabolites from marine invertebrates, we have isolated an antifungal from Haliclona enamela collected from Jorf Lasfar Port, El Jadida, Morocco. This has a strong antifungal activity against three yeasts (two Candida spp. and one Cryptococcus spp.) involved in human mycology and especially against Candida tropicalis resistant to nystatin and amphotericin B.

Emergence of Candida spp. and exploration of natural bioactive molecules for anticandidal therapy--status quo

The opportunistic yeast pathogen Candida albicans and the emerging non-albicans Candida spp. cause life-threatening infections in immuno-compromised patients, leading to an increase in mortality rate. At present, the emergence of non-albicans Candida spp. causes serious infections that are difficult to treat the human populations worldwide. The available, synthetic antifungal drugs show high toxicity to host tissues causing adverse effects. Many metabolites of terrestrial and marine plants, microbes, algae, etc., contain a rich source of unexplored novel leads of different types, which are under use to treat various diseases. Such natural drugs are less expensive and have lower toxicity to host tissues. The patent search on identified and potential anticandidal-lead molecules, from various patent databases, has been described in this review. Furthermore, this article consolidates the trends in the development of anticandidal drug discovery worldwide. Most of the investigations on natural, bioactive molecules against candidiasis are in various phases of clinical trials, of which, two drugs Caspofungin acetate and Micafungin sodium were approved by the U.S. FDA. In conclusion, the exploration of drugs from natural resources serves as a better alternative source in anticandidal therapeutics, having great scope for drug discovery in the future.

[Seasonal and geographical variation range of antifungal activity of sponge extracts from the Moroccan Atlantic coasts]

Currently, marine organisms have a very important source of new molecules in pharmacology and thus in the development of new bioactive products. The organic and aqueous extracts of two marine sponges, Cinachyrella tarentine collected during two different seasons, winter and summer, and Cliona viridis collected in two different zones on the coast of El Jadida (Morocco) were tested for their antifungal activity using the diffusion method. The C. tarentine sponge collected in January (winter) has a very important activity compared to that collected in August (summer). While the sponge C. viridis collected from Jorf Lasfar port (shallower and polluted area) has a very important activity compared to that collected from the coast of El Jadida (depth and unpolluted area).