Antimicrobial Activity of Bacterial Intracellular and Extracellular Pigment Extract Against Potent Pathogens

ABSTRACT

A strain of pigmented Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from soil and was analyzed for its pigment’santimicrobial properties. The isolated bacteriaum was able to produce two types of pigments viz,extracellulat and intracellular. The extracellular pigment was green and was water soluble andintracellular pigment was dark red and was not diffusible in water. Both these pigments were extractedand extracted pigments were used for antimicrobial studies. Many potent pathogens were used for thisstudy. Both Gram positive, negative and fungal pathogens were used in this study. The antimicrobialproperties were explored by using well diffusion method. MIC values for extracellular pigment againstmany pathogens were also determined. The extracellular pigment showed notable antimicrobial activityagainst C. albicans ATCC10231 followed by M. luteus ATCC9341, S. aureus ATCC 6538, E.coli ATCC8739 and P. aeruginosa ATCC9027. The lowest MIC value was recorded forC.albicans (360±00 µg/mL), E. coli ATCC8739 (433.3±0.4 µg/mL). The results of this studyshowed that the bacterium produces extracellular pigment as a protective weapon against manypathogens and competitors on the other hand the intracellular pigment’s role is different fromextracellular pigment.