ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI

The genus Gracilaria is cosmopolitan in its distribution. It has been reported from most parts of the world the Arctic temperate tropical & even Antarctic regions. Many macroalgae species have been shown to have bactericidal or bacteriostatic substances. The antibacterial agents found in the algae include amino acids terpenoids phlorotannins acrylic acid phenolic compounds steroids halogenated ketones and alkenes cyclic polysulphides & fatty acids. In a large number of marine algae antimicrobial activities are attributed to the presence of acrylic acid. Other species have been found to contain antifungal activities. The active antifungal agents so far reported include acrylic acid phlorotannins terpenoids & steroids. Marine algae have also been reported to contain antiviral antitumor & antihelminth substances. Although many isolated compounds from marine algae show activity in-vitro few are active in-vivo due to inactivation by serum protein binding poor absorption at the site of infection or easy metabolism into inactive compounds. However many of these compounds can be used as agro-chemicals in soaps lotions shampoos creams antiseptics & preservative agents.