Sanjana Julias Thilakar and T. S. Subha
Abstract
Hypnea cervicornis J Agardh a red marine alga has gained scientific interest for its potential bioactive properties. This study investigates the antibacterial and antifungal activity of H. cervicornisethanolic extracts against a range of pathogenic microorganisms. Ethanolic extracts was prepared and tested using standard agar well diffusion and broth dilution methods to assess antimicrobial efficacy. The anti-bacterial activity was studied against Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The antifungal activity was studied against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. The ethanolic extract exhibited significant inhibitory effects against both Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria, as well as pathogenic fungi, suggesting the presence of potent bioactive compounds. The inhibition zone was maximum in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida tropicalisre spectively. Theminimum inhibitory concentration was also studied. These findings highlight the potential of H. cervicornis as a natural source of antimicrobial agents, supporting its possible application in pharmaceutical or nutraceutical formulations.