Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology

Background and Aim: Sea cucumber has different properties through having different biological compounds. In this study, the antibacterial activity of the extracts of the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota was investigated on Escherichia coli.

Materials and Methods: Sea cucumber fishery samples after washing were crushed and powdered. The methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts of body wall, gonads and intestine were prepared. The antibacterial effect of the extracts was studied on the Escherichia coli at several concentrations. Also minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts were studied against bacteria.

Results: The results showed that methanol extracts had no effect, chloroform extracts showed antibacterial activity at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg per ml. Hexane extract of wall at concentrations of 5 and 10 and the intestine hexane extract at a concentration of 2.5, 5 and 10 mg per ml have antibacterial activity against bacteria. None of the concentrations of the gonadal hexane extract showed any antibacterial activity. Only the hexane extract of intestine killed the bacteria at a concentration of 10 mg /ml.

Conclusions: According to the findings of this research, extracts of sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota can be used in preparation of natural antimicrobial drugs as a valuable source of compounds with potential of antibacterial.