Drug development strategy for antimicrobial applications from nine different aquatic bio-based plants against human and fish pathogens

A study was carried out to explore the antibacterial properties of aquatic plants study often associated with breeding grounds for disease vectors like mosquitoes. These plants have recently been recognized for their potential as sources of antibacterial compounds. The purpose of the study was to assess the antibacterial effectiveness of local aquatic plant species against particular bacterial strains. Nine different aquatic plants were collected from ponds near Kandiyaperi Lake in Palaya Pettai, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India. Crude extracts of these plants were prepared using water, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The antibacterial activity of these extracts was subsequently evaluated against eight bacterial strains, four of which were aquatic and four were humans using the agar well diffusion method. Additionally, antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed to compare the effectiveness of these extracts with standard antibiotic discs. Results indicated that among the three types of crude extracts, those prepared with ethyl acetate exhibited the highest antibacterial potential. Aqueous extracts had no antibacterial action against any of the studied bacterial strains, whereas methanolic extracts exhibited moderate activity. This study yielded promising findings, highlighting a few selected aquatic plant extracts as potent natural antimicrobials. The final results suggest that these plant extracts could be utilized in the development of drugs to treat bacterial infections. The discovery opens up new avenues for exploring natural resources in combating infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Overall, this research underscores the importance of aquatic plants not only as breeding grounds for disease vectors but also as valuable sources of antimicrobial compounds.