Abstract

PHOTODYNAMIC ACTIVITY OF EGGSHELL PIGMENTS FOR ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES

Nagamani J. E.*

ABSTRACT

Avian eggshell pigments are mainly porphyrins, which are used therapeutically as photosensitizers. The resistance among various microbial species to different antimicrobial drugs is imposing the need for development of alternate therapeutic molecules. Here in the current study Photosensitizers like porphyrins are used for Photodynamic therapy to inhibit the growth of microorganisms with minimal invasive consequences. Two strains of gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and three strains of gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Klebsiella pneumonia) were screened for inhibitory activity of eggshell pigments. Both light dependent and light independent antimicrobial activity was observed for the extracted pigments. In vitro antibacterial activity were examined for the shell pigment extract by agar well diffusion method. Significant zones of inhibition, 19.01 ± 0.85 and 15.51mm + 0.32 were observed against Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. Protoporphyrin IX, a key component of the egg shell extract could be responsible for the effective antibacterial property. Nonetheless, further characterization studies are under progress.

Keywords: Porphyrin, photosensitizer, photoinactivation, Photodynamic, antimicrobial activity.