Antibacterial Activity of the Shell Extracts of Marine Mollusc Donax faba against Pathogens

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the shell extracts of Donax faba against human and fish pathogens. The shell powder of Donax faba were immersed separately in ethanol, acetone, methanol and cold steeped for overnight at -18°C. The antibacterial effects of the extracts were tested against six human pathogens and five fish pathogens. The extract obtained from ethanol showed a higher degree of inhibition to the human and fish pathogens. Maximum zone of inhibition was exhibited against S. paratyphi and Shigella sp. (7 mm) by the ethanol extract. The wide spectrum antibacterial activity exhibited by the shell powder extracts of Donax faba indicates that it may possess biologically active metabolites.