Seasonal Variation in Antimicrobial Activity of Crude Extracts of Psammaplysilla sp. 1 from Phillips Reef, South Africa

Abstract

Marine invertebrates constitute a diverse group of marine organisms beneficial to humanity due to their therapeutic significance. The marine sponge species Psammaplysilla sp. 1 was collected from Philips Reef, South Africa, over a four-season period and assayed for antimicrobial potential. The physicochemical parameters of the collection site were also recorded. The sponge crude extracts’ antimicrobial activity was evaluated using an agar well diffusion assay against 5 pathogens. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the presence of 7 critical phytochemical groups. During the four seasons, the mean water temperature was 17.35°C ± 2.06, with autumn recording the highest (20°C) temperature. Antifungal activity was observed by Psammaplysilla sp. 1 (30 mm) against C. albicans, and this was higher than that showed by standard drugs ICZ-10 µg (15 ± 0.1 mm), FLU-15 µg (21 ± 0.2 mm), and VCZ-5 µg (17 ± 0.1 mm), respectively. Similar bioactivities were observed seasonally with Psammaplysilla sp. 1 (22 mm and 24 mm) during autumn and spring, respectively, against C. difficile while only crude extracts collected in spring showed bioactivity against C. albicans. Psammaplysilla sp. crude extracts showed broad-spectrum bioactivity against all test pathogens. DCM : ME crude extracts tested positive for the presence of 2/7 of the phytochemicals (terpenoids and flavonoids). GC-MS revealed several previously reported biologically active compounds such bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-ol and phenol, 2,6-dibromo, some of which have been found in plants. This study revealed that sponge bioactivity is dependent on the season and further validated the antimicrobial potential of South African marine sponges.

Marine Demospongiae: A Challenging Treasure of Bioactive Compounds

“…In cases where interesting activity is not detected this does not mean that the sponge species will never develop such activity, as the production of compounds could be linked to the conditions in which the sponges are actually growing. This can be seen in a case reported by Kibungu et al [120], where the crude extract obtained from the marine sponge Psammaplysilla sp., sampled from Phillips Reef, South Africa, showed seasonal variation in antifungal activity. In fact, only ethyl acetate extracts performed from sponge samples collected in spring exhibited bioactivity against C. albicans compared to the positive controls fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole.…”

A Quarter Century of Marine Biodiscovery in Algoa Bay, South Africa

“…Symbiotic marine microorganisms can play a significant role in the biosynthesis of the specialized metabolites associated with their marine invertebrate hosts. − Investigations of the biosynthetic source of the pyrroloiminoquinone metabolites occurring in Algoa Bay latrunculid sponges have been ongoing for nearly a decade and are summarized here. Recently, there have been reports of extracts of an Algoa Bay sponge and sponge symbionts producing specialized metabolites of unknown chemical structure with antibiotic activity. , In addition, several reports have emerged describing the isolation of bioflocculant glycoproteins with undetermined chemical structures from bacteria isolated from Algoa Bay sediments. − In the absence of definitive chemical structures for the metabolites responsible for the antibiotic and bioflocculant activities, this research is not discussed further in this small-molecule chemistry-focused review.…”

“…Recently, there have been reports of extracts of an Algoa Bay sponge and sponge symbionts producing specialized metabolites of unknown chemical structure with antibiotic activity. 32,33 In addition, several reports have emerged describing the isolation of bioflocculant glycoproteins with undetermined chemical structures from bacteria isolated from Algoa Bay sediments. 34−39 In the absence of definitive chemical structures for the metabolites responsible for the antibiotic and bioflocculant activities, this research is not discussed further in this small-molecule chemistry-focused review.…”

Effects of seasonal variation on phytochemicals contributing to the antimalarial and antitrypanosomal activities of Breonadia salicina using a metabolomic approach

“…Such variations in metabolite formation can result in prominent chemical changes in any plant material, affecting the value of the bioactive compounds [ 2 ]. Physiological activity, which relies on the presence of specific compounds, is subject to these variations; several studies have provided evidence of these variations [ [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] ]. Plant growth can be affected by environmental factors such as temperature, height above mean sea level, rainfall, light intensity, soil humidity, and change of season [ 11 , 12 ].…”