Antimicrobial activity of volatile component and various extracts of Enteromorpha linza (Linnaeus) J. Agardh from the coast of Izmir, Turkey

The methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, chloroform and volatile components of Enteromorpha linza were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans ATCC 10239. GC-MS analysis of the volatile components of E. linza resulted in the identification of 35 compounds which constituted 84.76% of the total compounds. The volatile components of E. linza consisted of n-tetratriacontane (8.45%), 1-heptaclecanamine (6.65%) and docosane (6.46%) as major components. The methanol and chloroform extracts showed more potent antimicrobial activity than hexane and dichloromethane extracts. The volatile oils of these algae did not remarkably inhibit the growth of tested microorganisms.