Antibacterial Activity of Perionyx Excavatus Coelomic Fluid and Ethanolic Body Extract Against Escherichia coli and Gc-Ms Profiling of the Extract
G Ramya
Department of Pharmaceutics, JKKN College of Pharmacy, Tamil Nadu, India.
R Kartheeshwari
*
Department of Zoology, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Earthworms are soil-dwelling organisms that interact with a wide range of microbes and have evolved an effective innate immune response. Their immune system is enriched with leukocytes and humoral immune components. The coelomic fluid of earthworms contains lysozyme and antimicrobial peptides that act as antibacterial agents. Earthworms are inexpensive, non-ethical model organisms that can be used as potential sources of antimicrobial agents.
In the present investigation, the antibacterial effects of earthworm extract and coelomic fluid from Perionyx excavatus against Escherichia coli were determined by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition. Escherichia coli showed a high level of resistance to both the coelomic fluid and the earthworm extract. However, P. excavatus earthworm extract was found to be more effective than its coelomic fluid. Therefore, the bioactive compounds present in the earthworm extract were identified using GC–MS analysis. The results revealed putative compounds responsible for its antibacterial activity. From this study, it is evident that earthworm extracts possess antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli.
Keywords: Coelomic fluid, earthworm extract, perionyx excavates, escherichia coli