Biological Screening of Cyanobacteria for Antimicrobial and Molluscicidal Activity, Brine Shrimp Lethality, and Cytotoxicity

Abstract

A total of 86 lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts obtained from 43 samples of cultured and field collected freshwater and terrestrial cyanobacteria have been screened for their biological activities. Anti-microbial evaluation demonstrated 16.3% to be active against Gram-positive and 5.8% against Gram-negative bacteria, while 10.5% possessed antifungal activity. A lethal effect (= 60%) against brine shrimp (Artemia salina Leach) was exhibited by 8.1% of all extracts at 500 ppm. Cytotoxic activity against KB cells was shown by 1.2%, and 8.1% were active against Caco-2 cells at 50 ppm. A molluscicidal effect against Biomphalaria glabrata was found for 5.8% of the extracts (LC 100 < 100 ppm).