The Potential of Mudskipper Mucus Extract (Boleophthalmus boddarti) as Antibacterial Agent

Abstract

Fish mucus is a by-product which rarely used and has no selling value. Fish mucus is used as an initial defense in preventing the fish body from bacterial infections. The mudskipper (Boleophthalmus boddarti) is a fish that can produce a lot of mucus because of it has fast-paced behavior. Mucus of fish has the potential like act as an antibacterial agent. The aim of this research was to determine antibacterial activity of Gelodok fish mucus extract based on diameter of inhibition zone formed in inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The method used antibacterial activity of fresh and frozen mudskipper fish extract with disc diffusion method. Antibacterial activity was tested based on inhibition zone formed with different extract concentrations. There were 6 treatments tested using fresh and frozen fish mucus extract, namely with concentrations of 2000, 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5 µg/mL. The higher concentration of mucus extract had been the higher inhibition zone. The range of inhibition zones formed against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria when observing fresh and frozen fish mucus was 1.17-4.33 mm. The range of inhibition zones formed against Escherichia coli bacteria when observing fresh and frozen fish mucus was 0.50-1.92 mm. The results of the study showed that Mucus of Mudfish had antibacterial activity which was classified as low activity.