Introduction:
Preformed enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus are one of the most common causes of seafood-borne food poisoning worldwide. Aquatic organisms, including those used as seafood, are also a source of organic compounds of potential medical importance.
Purpose:
Within the framework of an antimicrobial activity study of marine macro-organisms from the Persian Gulf, bioactive compounds of the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota were extracted from whole sea cucumber bodies using chloroform or methanol. The extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial effects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and enterotoxin producing Staphylococcus aureus strains (SEASA, SEBSA).
Methods:
Antimicrobial activities were determined using three methods: disk diffusion tests, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
Results:
The results demonstrate that methanol and chloroform extracts have an inhibitory effect on the growth of all strains tested at MIC concentrations up to 100 mg/ml. Also, the chloroform extract demonstrated bactericidal activity against SEBSA in concentrations of about 100 mg/ml. The extract below 100 mg/ml concentrations also shows bactericidal effects against MRSA and SEBSA. The highest antibacterial activity was found in the methanol extract.
Significance:
Therefore, sea cucumber extract is an interesting candidate for the identification of new antimicrobials, however, comprehensive investigations are needed to separate and identify the active compounds from Holothuria leucospilota from the Persian Gulf.