Antifungal and cytotoxic effects of methanol extracts of three marine molluscs.

ABSTRACT

Methanol extracts of whole body (Melampus ceylonicus), blood (Anadara rhombea) and hepatopancreas (Sepiella inermis) were screened for antifungal and cytotoxic activity. Blood of A. rhombea and hepatopancreas of S. inermis strongly inhibited Candida albicans, Mucor racemosus and Penicillium expansum. A. rhombea appear to exert strong cytotoxic activity against vertebrate erythrocytes. The bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholarae) were not inhibited by any of the three tested methanol extracts.