Effect of Pharaoh’s cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis ink against bacterial pathogens

Antibacterial activity of the extracts of ink samples of cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis was assayed against selected human and fish pathogens using agar well diffusion technique. Highest activity was seen against human pathogens such as Salmonella paratyphi B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae, by the crude extract in diethyl ether and against Salmonella paratyphi B, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae by the toluene extract. The column-purified diethyl ether fractions were more active against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and two fish pathogens, Serratia marcescens and Proteus mirabilis. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 100% diethyl ether fraction was found to be lower for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis.