Antimicrobial activity of pectin against bacterial strains isolated from marine habitats

Pectin is a polysaccharide found in fruits and vegetables. Pectins are added to several types of foods because of their nutritional benefits to humans due to the presence of dietary fiber. It is also considered a natural antimicrobial material. In this study, antibacterial activity of pectin was investigated against unknown marine bacteria (isolated from marine sand). The samples were identified using PCR. 5% pectin solution was used in well diffusion assay. The result showed that pectin 5% was able to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus areophilus and Bacillus sp. However, the minimum activity of pectin was found in Bacillus altitudinis ( has no clear zone). The most obvious finding to emerge from this study, pectin is capable of reducing activity of some marine bacteria.