Antipathogenic activity of marine Gastropoda (Hemifusus pugilinus) from Pazhayar, South East Coast of India

Marine organisms represent a valuable source of new compounds. The biodiversity of the marine environment and the associated chemical diversity constitute a practically unlimited source of new active substances in the development of bioactive products. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of antimicrobial activities in the commercially important mollusc species of H pugilinus. Bioactive compound was extracted using 3 different solvent (water, ethanol and methanol) and it is screened for antibacterial activity against 10 human bacterial pathogens. Methanolic extract showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The maximum inhibition zone was 12 mm against proteus mirabilis. The minimum inhibition zone was 3 mm, against P. mirabilis. These promising results have led us to consider purification of the active compound(s) which may be related to mollusc defense mechanisms.