Antimicrobial Peptide from Marine Sponge Clathria indica, (Dendy,1889)

Marine sponges are potential of new antibiotic. Sponges are believed to have developed secondary metabolites that are active against different strains of microorganisms as part of their defenses and survival in the marine environment. In the present study marine sponges were collected by SCUBA diving from the depth of 20-25m in the gulf of manner region. In antibacterial activity among the various strains maximum diameter of (12 mm) zone of inhibition was recorded in Escheirchia coli strain and minimum zone of inhibition of (6mm) was observed in Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis and Lactobacillus vulgaris strain. In antifungal activity maximum zone of inhibition was observed in Fusarium sp. (+++) and minimum zone of inhibition was recorded in Aspergillus fumigatus (+). TLC plate with fractions of Clathria indica and developed in B: A: W as the solvent system and sprayed with ninhydrin reagent showing pink colored indicated the presence of amino acids and peptides. On the basis of TLC observations on further confirmations with 1H NMR peptide presented in between ( 6-8ppm fractions) subjected to studies by using chromatography technique. This resulted in the identification of antimicrobial peptide.