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Crude methanolic extract of Gafrarium divaricatum and its five fractions viz. hexane, ethyl acetate,
chloroform, acetone and water were screened against four fungal human pathogens to determine
antifungal activity by using disc-diffusion assay method. Only crude methanolic extract showed
consistent antimicrobial activity as compared to other fractions. Crude methanolic extract showed
significant antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus
niger with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 0.1 mg/ml, 0.3 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml respectively.
Determination of the possible chemical antifungal components from crude methanolic extract was
carried out by GC-MS Technique. This analysis identified and characterized nine bioactive
compounds. Four of these compounds that have known therapeutic properties include (i)
Octadecane, 2,2,4,15,17,17-hexamethyl-7,12-bis(3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) for anticancer properties, (ii)
l-(+)-Ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate for antitumour and antibacterial properties and (iii) 2-
Cyclopentene-1-tridecanoic acid for antibacterial activity (iv)17-(1,5-Dimethylhexyl)-10,13-
dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol as
drug for mineral disorders and antibacterial properties. In this study, G. divaricatum was found to
be a potential source of medicinal compounds.The five other compounds obtained in the present
study should be screened for their medicinal properties.
Keyword: Antifungal; Bivalve; GC-MS analysis; Minimum inhibitory Concentration; Mumbai coast.