Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some macro algae from Aegean sea

In the first part of this study, six different macro algae species (Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira compressa, Sargassum acinarium, Codium fragile tomentosoides, Enteromorpha linza, Jania longifurca,) were investigated for their antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activity. Two different extraction method were used for chloroform and methanol extraction and then well diffusion method was used for measure the activity inhibition zones. The microorganisms that were used are; Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538p, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064,Salmonella typhimuriumCCM 583, Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047D, Escherichia coli , Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 6897. Codium fragile and Enteromorpha linza extracts showed the highest inhibitory effect on some strains.Second part of this study, six different macro algae species (Padina pavonica, Sargassum acinarium, Cystoseira barbata, , Jania longifurca, Caulerpa racemosa, Laurencia obtusa ) which were collected from the Aegean Sea were investigated for their antioxidant activity. Antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx), in vivo play important roles for removal of damaging effects caused by reactive ocygen species in living organisms. The activity of this enzyme and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of as a membrane damage marker were investigated in these algae. Tests are performed by tho methods; spectrophotometrically and high pure liquid chromotography technique. The total protein contents of the algal samples were measured by BCA method. Highest antioxidant activity according to GPX was measured from Padina pavonica (13,775 U/L), it was followed by Sargassum acinarium, Jania longifurca, Caulerpa racemosa, Laurencia obtusa and Cystoseira barbata. While highest protein content was measured in L. obtusa, the lowest protein was measured in S. acinarum. As the results of MDA/protein (mg) contents were compared, S. acinarum had the highest activity.