Neda Sarhadizadeh, Majid Afkhami and Maryam Ehsanpour
This study was carried out in order to screen the antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activity of the bioactive compounds extracted from the test body of the solitary ascidian, Phallusia nigra collected from the Iranian coastal water (Persian Gulf) against five human pathogenic microorganisms. Water-methanol extract at 18 μg/ml concentrations produced a maximum inhibition zone of 25 mm against S. aureus and the minimum of 20 mm at 16 μg/ml concentrations. The corresponding zones of water-methanol extract produced 25mm against A. niger at 18 μg/ml concentration. There is a great scope for finding further novel antimicrobial compounds in the ascidian group, and further research is needed including biochemical and seasonal changes in biologically active peptides in Persian Gulf.
