Antibacterial and bacteriostatic potential of coelomic fluid and body paste of Pheretima posthuma (Vaillant, 1868) (Clitellata, Megascolecidae) against ampicillin resistant clinical bacterial isolates

Abstract

Pheretima posthuma (Vaillant, 1868), a native earthworm of Pakistan and Southeast Asia, has wide utilization in vermicomposting and bioremediation process. In this study, P. posthuma coelomic fluid (PCF) and body paste (PBP) was evaluated as antibacterial agent against ampicillin (AMP) resistant five Gram positive and four Gram negative clinical isolates. The antibacterial effect of different doses (i.e. 25-100 µg/ml) of PCF and PBP along with AMP and azithromycin (AZM) (negative and positive controls, respectively) were observed through disc diffusion and micro-dilution methods. All nine clinical isolates were noticed as AMP resistant and AZM sensitive. Antibacterial effects of PCF and PBP were dose dependent and zone of inhibitions (ZI) against all clinical isolates were between 23.4 ± 0.92 to 0 ± 00 mm. The sensitivity profile of PCF and PBP against clinical isolates was noticed as 44.44 and 55.56%, respectively. Both PCF and PBP showed bacteriostatic (BTS) action against S. aureus, S. pyogenes, K. pneumonia, N. gonorrhoeae. Moreover, the cumulative BTS potential of PCF and PBP against all isolates was 66.67 and 55.56%, respectively. The MICs of PCF and PBP were ranged from 50-200 µg/ml against selected isolates. The bacterial growth curves indicated that PCF and PBP inhibited the growth of all isolates at their specific MIC concentrations. However, PBP has better antibacterial potential compared to PCF against selected isolates. Therefore, it is concluded that both PCF and PBP of P. posthuma possess antibacterial and BTS potential against ampicillin resistant clinical isolates. This organism might be considered as a second choice of antibacterial agents and can further be utilized in pharmaceutical industries for novel drug manufacturing by prospecting bioactive potential agents.

Antibiofilm Potential of Coelomic Fluid and Paste of Earthworm Pheretima posthuma (Clitellata, Megascolecidae) against Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Our results are in agreement with the findings of Roubalová et al [ 11 ], who showed that earthworm’s PCF and PBP consist of many bioactive agents that control numerous biological activities, thus they might act as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. Similarly, Hussain et al [ 17 ] described that earthworm body paste, extract, and coelomic fluid all possess various kinds of bioactive agents, including proteases (proteins or peptides), metabolites, metal-binding proteins, active proteins (such as lysenin, lysozyme, and eiseniapore, etc. ), antimicrobial peptides, coelomic cytolytic factor (CCF and CCF-I), lysenin, fetidin, lumbricin complex, organic acids (i.e., fatty acid), and some organic compounds (e.g., vitamin D and purine and vitamin D) [ 7 , 44 ].…”

“…For example, in Burma, China, and India, earthworms are widely used for curing certain illnesses such as pyorrhea, postpartum weaknesses, arthritis, inflammation, wound healing, gastric ulcer, hepatoprotective, carcinoma, antipyretic, and nervous system disorders [ 12 ]. Earthworms’ tissue extracts, coelomic fluid, and body paste possess various agents (i.e., proteins) that have been well-documented as antiulcer [ 13 ], antiviral [ 14 ], anti-coagulant [ 15 ], antifungal [ 16 ], antibacterial [ 13 ], anti-inflammatory [ 17 ], antitumor [ 18 ], antipyretic [ 19 ], analgesic agents [ 20 ], and cytotoxic [ 21 ].…”

Evaluation of Safety of Stewart’s Wood Fern (Dryopteris stewartii) and Its Anti-Hyperglycemic Potential in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice

“…Similar findings were also reported [ 6 ] in Albizia odoratissima Benth; however, Dryopteris ramosa also showed the high phenolic contents (199.2 mg gallic acid/g extract) with repression of Cholinesterase activity belonging to the same genus [ 41 ] has confirmed the use of this plant as therapeutic agent is also in accordance with our results. Different plants showed various medicinal benefits in different ways, either as crude extracts or fractions exploited for the treatment of many diseases [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Thus, the proper authentication of the desired plant [ 44 , 45 , 46 ] will provide authentic scientific knowledge [ 47 , 48 , 49 ] for its better exploitation in different disorders [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Medicinal Perspective of Antibacterial Bioactive Agents in Earthworms (Clitellata, Annelida): A Comprehensive Review

“…Earthworms (Clitellata, Annelida) are protostomian, very common invertebrates in the temperate soils and perform significant role in soil biota 1) . These are long and segmented organisms contain true celom that is packed with celomic fluid having floating coelomocytes.…”

“…Microorganisms enter the coelomic cavity via metanephridia. Earthworms play a key role in the chemical, physical, and microbiological aspects of nutrient cycling in terrestrial environment, as well as in the 2 totoxic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antifungal, antiulcer, antiviral, anti-coagulant, antibacterial, and antipyretic agents 1,6) .…”