Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of Chorella vulgaris isolated from Unkal Lake
Objective: To determine the presence of bioactive molecules and to check their antimicrobial
activity from green algae Chlorella vulgaris (AS-3) (C. vulgaris) isolated from Unkal Lake in
Dharwad District, Karnataka, India.
Methods: Based on the polarity, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, hexane,
methanol, petroleum ether and distilled water were the solvents used for the preparation of
algal extracts using Soxhlet apparatus, which were further subjected to phytochemical analysis
and screening of antimicrobial activity. Human pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus,
Corynebacterium, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Paratyphi B,
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aerobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were
used for antimicrobial assay. Standard methods were followed for qualitative estimation of
phytochemicals.
Results: Phytochemical determination of bioactive molecules showed the presence of
alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, carotenoids, phenols, lignins, saponins, sterols, tannins,
reducing sugars, volatile oil, fats, amino acids and carbohydrates. In vitro analysis of organic
solvent extracts of C. vulgaris, a green microalgae, showed an activity by suppressing the
proliferation of bacterial, fungal and human pathogens. Four extracts (chloroform, ethyl
acetate, hexane and methanol) showed effective inhibitory activity against the tested pathogens.
Depending on the percentage of bioactive molecules present in each of the organic extracts,
different extracts showed different inhibition zone diameters against the pathogens. Among the
eight organic extracts used for the study, excellent inhibitory effects were shown by chloroform
and methanol extracts.
Conclusions: The present study indicates that green algae C. vulgaris is rich in natural
compounds which are highly important in pharmacology and nutraceuticals. Although the
presence of bioactive molecules is very less in the algae, excellent effect on the microbial
pathogens was observed.
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: P G Department of Studies in Biotechnology and Microbiology, Karnatak University, Dharwad-580003, India 2: Department of Biotechnology, Davangere University, Shivagangothri, Davangere, Karnataka, India
Publication date: 01 January 2016
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