Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Slime Coat Possesses Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Activities

Abstract

The mucoprotein slime coat often found on fish bodies act as defense against invasion by microbes and other environmental dangers. There is an increase in the incidence and emergence of multidrug resistant microbial strains, which has necessitated the need for newer antimicrobial agents. With this background, the aim of this study is therefore, to assess the antimicrobial effects as well as wound healing properties of mucin isolated from a catfish slime coat. Collection, precipitation with 96% absolute acetone, isolation and preparation of the mucilage from the slime coat of a live catfish was performed to obtain the powdered mucilage or catfish mucin (CM). The antimicrobial effect of the CM was evaluated using the agar dilution technique, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The wound healing effect of CM was also studied using wound healing excision model in rats. In addition quantitative biochemical analysis of the constituents of the catfish mucin was also performed using standard procedures. The CM exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with an MIC value of 3.0, 3.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 6.0 (all in mg/ml) respectively, with no appreciable activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Biochemical analysis of CM showed the presence of carbohydrates (76.31%), moisture content (10.86%), proteins (7.38%), ash (2.34%), fibre (2.06%) and fats (1.06%) per 100 mg of the mucin. While wound healing study showed that CM reduced wound diameter and increased the rate of epithelialization in the increasing order of 40%, 10% and 20% preparations compared to penicillin G, a standard agent. In conclusion, the catfish mucin, a glycoprotein from the slime coat, exhibited antibacterial activity with bactericidal potentials and possesses wound healing properties.

Mechanical induced wounds in fish – a review on models and healing mechanisms

“…1991; Akunne et al . 2016), and authors suggest that the mucus may reduce inflammation and enhance granulation tissue formation and wound contraction (Al‐Hassan et al . 1983).…”

Antibacterial, antifungal and wound healing potentials of extract and fractions of Nauclea diderrichii root bark

“…The Agar dilution method based on ICLS and as previously described with modification [13] , was used in the determination of the MIC. A 200 mg/ ml of the extract, MDE, was prepared by dissolving 500 mg of the extract in 2.5 ml of DMSO.…”

Wound Healing Potentials of some Fin Fishes

“…The human skin protects the tissues and organs from physical, mechanical, chemical and microbial damage and they mainly consist of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue (Da et al, 2017;Bi and Jin, 2013). Skin injury often cause disruption of neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages on the site of injury (Barrientos et al, 2008;Akunne et al, 2016).Wound infection is one of the health concerns that are caused and aggravated by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms (Mama et al, 2014). Generally wound infections create barrier during restoration of the skin due to abrupt loss of integrity of the skin.…”

“…WOUND HEALING POTENTIALSSeveral physiological processes are involved in the repair of skin and other soft tissues injury in humans and other animals(Akunne et al, 2016). The mechanism of wound healing is a complex processes that involve resurfacing, reconstruction and restoration of the tensile strength of the injured tissue at cellular level(Akunne et al, 2016). Wound healing typically involves four major phases viz: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling/ maturation(Akunne et al, 2016;Kerstein, 1997).…”

“…The mechanism of wound healing is a complex processes that involve resurfacing, reconstruction and restoration of the tensile strength of the injured tissue at cellular level(Akunne et al, 2016). Wound healing typically involves four major phases viz: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling/ maturation(Akunne et al, 2016;Kerstein, 1997). According toPastar et al (2014),Akunne et al (2016), several processing occurring at both cellular and molecular phase are involved in initiation, maintenance, and completion of epithelialization for complete wound closure.…”