Antimicrobial Activity of Three Ulva Species Collected from Some Egyptian

Members of the class Ulvophyceae such as Ulva fasciata Delile,Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus and Ulva lactuca Linnaeus were collected from tidal and intertidal zone of Mediterranean sea shores during April 2011 and extracted in ethanol. The total summation of the recorded total protein increase in the order: Ulva fasciata < Ulva intestinalis < Ulva lactuca, with percentage; 28.7, 27 and 17.6%, respectively. The total summation of the recorded total carbohydrate increase in the order: Ulva lactuca < Ulva intestinalis < Ulva fasciata, with percentage; 55.6, 49.63 and 47.93%, respectively. The total summation of the recorded total ash increase in the order:Ulva lactuca < Ulva fasciata < Ulva intestinalis with percentage; 17.6, 17 and 14.6 %, respectively. The total summation of the recorded total moisture increase in the order: Ulva intestinalis < Ulva fasciata < Ulva lactuca, with percentage; 9.93, 9.28 and 8.50% respectively. The total summation of the recorded total crude fat increase in the order Ulva lactuca < Ulva fasciata < Ulva intestinalis, with percentage; 0.7, 0.60 and 0.54 % respectively. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of carbohydrates and/or glycosides, sterols and/or triterpenes and traces of tannins in all marine algae under investigation, the presence of both free flavonoids and/or combined flavonoids in all marine algae under investigation, Saponins are absent in all Ulva sp. under investigation, Cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and alkaloids are absent in all Ulva species under investigation and volatile substances are also absent. Antimicrobial activity of Ulva sp. was tested against (10 Gram +ve bacteria, 10 Gram -ve bacteria and 10 unicellular Filamentous fungi). The antimicrobial activities were expressed as zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Identification of compounds from crude extract of Ulva sp. carried by LC/MS technique. Finally Ulva sp. could serves as useful source of new antimicrobial agents.