Antibacterial potential of extracts of Asparagopsis armata, a red marine alga, against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in urinary tract infections.

N. Rai; I. Sifi; H. Gouzi; I. Kadi

doi:10.15421/0226020

N. Rai University of Amar Telidji
I. Sifi University of Amar Telidji
H. Gouzi University of Amar Telidji
I. Kadi Research Unit in Medicinal Plants

Keywords: Asparagopsis armata, urinary tract infections, Escherichia coli, methanol and acetone extracts, LC-MS/MS analysis.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) primarily caused by Escherichia coli are a global public health concern exacerbated by rising antibiotic resistance, particularly in Algeria, where multidrug-resistant strains dominate clinical isolates. This study investigates the antibacterial potential of Asparagopsis armata , a red marine alga, against UTI pathogens in Algeria, particularly Gharda i a Region . Also, the LC-MS/MS analysis wa s realized to identify 28 phenolic compounds in the methanol extract. Data from 5 , 084 urine samples revealed 23% UTI prevalence, with E. coli accounting for 61% of isolates, while females (26%) exhibited higher infection rates than males (16%). Methanol extracts yielded the highest bioactivity (3.71% via ultrasonic assisted extraction) and exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 119 to 123 µg/mL against 11 multidrug resistant E. coli strains. All extracts inhibited all tested strains. This study demonstrates the potential of A. armata as a sustainable alternative to conventional antibiotics , supporting marine-derived antimicrobials as a critical strategy to combat ant i biotic resistance.

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