IPN: Scientists study antimicrobial activity of sargassum

Noting the increasing prevalence of sargassum on the Mexican Caribbean coast, scientists from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) were motivated to study the potential uses of this biomass, so they started a research project with which they discovered Chemical compoundsObtained from an organic extract of seaweed, Inhibit pathogen metabolism It is frequently associated with antibiotic-resistant nosocomial infections.

Minister of Public Education, Delfina Gomez AlvarezHe pointed out that caring for the environment is everyone’s business, and that is why young people must be taught social and environmental responsibility.

In turn, the general manager of IPN, Arturo Reyes Sandoval, that the Polytechnic demonstrates its commitment to society, through the training of highly qualified researchers.

The project is being implemented at the National School of Biological Sciences (ENCB) under the direction of Dr. Juan Carlos Villalobos Rocha, who explained that for the studies they had prepared several samples of Sargassum natan that had previously been cleaned, dried and powdered. ; Including the ethanolic extract, which tested in the laboratory its effectiveness against bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This was determined by a specialist from the Laboratory of Microbial Biochemistry The results obtained so far are encouraging, since they noted that the ethanolic extract is able to inhibit the biofilm of both microorganisms, which is a biofilm made by pathogens that, on the one hand, helps them to resist the environment, stress and antimicrobial agents, and on the other hand and It is the mechanism that can cause harm to humans.

“We are investigating whether the compounds in the extract have a Direct activity on microorganisms Or just prevent them from configuring it biofilmThey become vulnerable to the environment and their virulence stops.”

The Doctor of Biochemical Sciences explained that to determine the exact chemical composition of both types of sargassum, they have cooperation with Polytechnic University of Pachuca (UPP). Likewise, Isabel Villadia Moreno and Daniel Suarez Morales, students of biochemical engineering and parasitologist and chemical bacteriologist, respectively, are involved in the project.

Juan Carlos Villalobos Rocha In the medium term, he said, they would seek to describe a compound that confers antimicrobial and/or antiviral activity and obtain patent registration. “If progress continues as it has so far, then what?We hope to have more in-depth studies and identification of the specific compound by the end of 2022pointed out.

The professor and member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) Level I stated that in other studies with algae they obtained chemical compounds called furfurales, which are of great industrial importance due to their multiple uses; That is why it has been purified and identified through techniques such as High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance, among other things.

He emphasized that the main focus of the research is to search for strategies to utilize sargassum as a raw material for various uses, in addition to evaluating its antimicrobial activity, with Biomass is also conducting studies to obtain bioethanol of cellulose (sugar) it contains.

The National Polytechnic has the distinction of being an educational entity that seeks to obtain significant results in its scientific research projects. Therefore, these types of projects are promising for the academic community in the country.

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