Marine Phytochemicals as a Source of Pharmacological Interest for Drug Resistant Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Antimicrobial drug resistance occurs in hospitals worldwide. One of the globally important micro-organisms is Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which now causes more than 40% of all S. aureus bacteremias. Hence scientists are searching for natural compounds to control MRSA. Many marine organisms are known to produce bioactive compounds, but historically man has derived relatively few pharmaceutical agents from marine species. It is certainly true that most of the pharmacologically active products have been isolated from the sea especially from microalgae. In the present study a survey was made in the Nagercoil government hospital for studying bed sore infectious Staphylococcus aureus. From the samples collected, 20% were Staphylococcus spp. and 80% were other bacterial species. Of the 20% of Staphylococcus aureus, 33.4% Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Different solvent extracts of four marine micro algae were screened against MRSA pathogens. The extraction of antimicrobials from marine micro algae reveals that n-Butanol gave maximum extraction. Among the total Four microalgal extracts used against the bed sore MRSA pathogens Isochrysis galbana extract showed highest percentage inhibition (52%) when compared to other extracts. The present study would therefore seems particularly worthy for further investigations of valuable compounds from marine microalgae.