In Vitro Antibacterial Screening of Fatty Acid Fractions from Three Different Microalgae

Abstract

The spectrum of antibacterial activities shown by fatty acid fractions of different microalgae, depending on the unsaturation pattern and chain length are still need to be explored. This study provides information on the fatty acid composition of three microalgae, Chlorella marina, Nannochloropsis occulata and Chaetoceros affinis along with their antibacterial activities against selected clinical and fish pathogens. PUFA content of fatty acid fractions followed the order N. occulata > C. affinis > C. marina. Greater abundance of eicosapentanoic acid found in Nannochloropsis occulata (27.39 ± 0.15%) and Chaetoceros affinis (25.34 ± 0.23%) might be responsible for higher bacterial inhibition shown by these fractions.