Recently, epidermal mucus of fish has been identified as a rich biological source of various bioactive substances, particularly antibacterial peptides. This study was conducted to identify the potential of epidermal mucosa of Clarias batrachus as a source of antibacterial material. Mucosal samples were collected from C. batrachus epidermis and extracted using an aqueous extraction method. Antibacterial activity of the crude epidermal mucus extract was determined by using spectrophotometric method. As a result there was antibacterial activity by the mucus extract against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The results of this study supports the role of mucus as a part of body immune system with antibacterial peptide as a component of innate body immune system. Hence, these findings can be used as one of the first steps towards the development of new class antibiotics.
Two species of plants, Andrographis paniculata and Euphorbia hirta were screened for antibacterial activities against three Gram positives and Gram negatives. The leaves from both plants were extracted by methanol extraction. The antibacterial activity was detected with spread plate well diffusion method. The extracts of both plants demonstrated inhibitory activity against both Gram negative and positives bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus epidemidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC determination using micro dilution method showed that the A/tic of A. paniculata for the tested bacteria were 1.56 mg/ml (Staph. aureus), 3.13 mg/ml (Bacillus subtilis), 3.13 mg/ml (Strept. epidemidis), 1.56 mg/ml (Escherichia cob), 12.50 mg/ml (Klebsiella pneumoniae) and 3.13 mg/ml (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) respectively. The MIC value for E. hirta was 6.25 mg/ml (Staph. aureus) and 3.13 mg/ml (Bacillus subtilis), 3.13 mg/ml (Strept. Epidemidis), 3.13 mg/ml (Pseudomonas aeruginosa),12.5 mg/ml (Escherichia coli), and 6.25 mg/ml (Klebsiella pneumoniae). Both plants represent a potential for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications and are worthy of further study.