Endophytic Fungal Cellulase for Extraction of Carrageenan and its Use in Antibiotics Amended Film Preparation

Radhakrishnan Muthezhilan^1*, Kuzhandaivel Jayaprakash¹, Ramachandran Karthik¹ and Ajmath Jaffar Hussain²

¹Department of Marine Biotechnology, AMET University (U/S of UGC Act 1956) Kanathur, Chennai 603112, India ²Centre for Marine Bioprospecting, AMET University (U/S of UGC Act 1956) Kanathur, Chennai 603112, India.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1424

ABSTRACT: The use of non biodegradable plastic based packaging materials has been stopped in several food industries due to their disadvantages, so bio based polymers like polysaccharides are the alternative source for the preparation of films in food packaging. Thus, the present work was aimed to prepare the carrageenan (polysaccharides) based antibiotics amended films to prevent the food borne microbial pathogen in packed foods to extend its shelf life. In this study, morphologically 25 different endophytic fungal strains were isolated from different salt marsh plants, such as, Sweda monica and S.maritima were collected from Kelambakam Coastal area, East Coast of Tamil Nadu, India and they were named as, AEF51 to AEF75. All the fungal isolates were screened for cellulase activity and the maximum cellulase producing potential strain AEF58 was mass cultured. After the partial purification of cellulase it was lyophilized and stored for further use. The red seaweed Amphiroa anceps was collected from Kootapuli Village, Valliyoor Taluk, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India. From that, the carrageenan was extracted by biological method using endophytic fungal cellulase. After the extraction of carrageenan the antibiotics such as Amoxycillin, Tetracycline, Chloroamphenical, Erythromycin, Doxycyoline, Ofloxacin, Cephalexin, Dictoxacilin and Ampicillin were amended and different films were prepared using standard protocols. All the films were tested against different seafood borne pathogens such as, E.coli, Vibrio cholerae, V.parahaemolyticus, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp and Listeria sp (Obtained from AMET Microbial Culture Collection Centre). Among them, the Cephalexin amended film was showed the maximum zone of inhibition (ZOI) against all the tested pathogens. From the results, the study concluded that, the extraction of carragenan by biological substances increase the production and antibiotic amended carrageenan based films will be used for food packaging to control the pathogenic microbes and preserve the foods from spoilage

KEYWORDS: Seaweeds; Carrageenan; Antibacterial Activity; Seafood Packaging

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