Antifouling Potentials of Seaweeds Collected from the Southwest Coast of India

In the present study, a total of ten seaweed species collected from the Kollam coast (Indian ocean) were subjected to antifouling assays against the common fouling organisms such as Balanus amphitrite, Mytilus edulis and three biofilm forming bacteria, Vibrio sp., Colwellia sp. SW125 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. SW124. Of all the seaweeds tested, only one species, the red algae, Laurencia brandenii displayed broader spectrum of activity. The active principle of L. brandenii was purified in column chromatography and was identified by GC-MS. The GC-MS profile of L. brandenii suggested the purified fraction is primarily composed of octadecadienoic acid (49.75%) followed by n-Hexadecanoic acid (14.24%) which could have functional role in the chemical defense against fouling organisms and it could be utilized for the development of ideal antifoulants in future.