Journal of Pharmacognosy & Natural Products

Anti-biofilm Activity of Chitosan from Crab and Shrimp Species Indigenous to the Philippines on Established Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Berley Jane Aurestila, Erla Ann Marie Villaver* and Elizabeth Y Tan

Biofilms are structures produced by bacteria by attaching themselves together in a surface to form a protective matrix, rendering them resistant to antimicrobial treatments. The objective of this study was to examine the anti-biofilm activity of chitosan from crab and shrimp species on the established biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The test groups were treated with chitosan solutions of varying concentrations (2.5 g/L and 10 g/L) chitosan from shrimp shells extract, 2.5 g/L and 10 g/L crab shells extract and a mixture of both shell extracts with the same concentration mixed in a one-to-one volume by ratio. Three different analysis were conducted involving color intensity test through TotalLab software, spectrophotometric analysis and microplate reader analysis. The highest percent anti-biofilm formation inhibition was observed with the 2.5 g/L mixed (1:1) chitosan solution against established biofilms of P. aeruginosa with a 62.90 ± 12% inhibition. On the other hand, S. aureus showed no percent inhibition with the 2.5 g/L shrimp chitosan and 10 g/L crab chitosan but was most sensitive to 10 g/L mixed (1:1) chitosan solution with an inhibition of 39.47 ± 19%. From the results, the 1:1 combination of shrimp and crab chitosan solutions resulted to a higher percent anti-biofilm formation inhibition than when given separately.