Chemical Composition, Scolicidal Effects and Antimicrobial Activities of Green Macroalga Ulva intestinalis

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the antimicrobial, biological, and scolicidal activities of Ulva intestinalis (U. intestinalis), which is one of the green algae. U. intestinalis was collected in appropriate amounts and some of the samples were distilled with water vapour to extract their essential oils, and some of them were extracted by Soxhlet extraction with hexane and dichloromethane. The values of lethal concentration doses (LD₅₀ and LD₉₀) were calculated using the probit analysis. Antibacterial and scolicidal effects of the essential oil and solvent extracts of U. intestinalis against gram-positive, gram-negative and yeast microorganisms were studied. It was determined that essential oil and solvent extracts of U. intestinalis may have scolicidal effects. The highest scolicidal activity was observed in 15 000 µg/ml in all organic solvents. Antimicrobial activity was observed for U. intestinalis, with high potency with hexane extract against Enterobacter aerogenes and with dichloromethane extract against Enterococcus faecalis (inhibition zone ≥ 12 mm). It is suggested that controlled in vivo studies should be carried out in order to use this alga as a bactericidal and scolicidal medication.