UNPRECEDENTED ISOLATION OF $\beta$-SITOSTEROL ACETATE FROM DICHLOROMETHANE FRACTION OF HYDROID, Aglaophenia cupressina LAMOUROUX, AND ITS ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Hydroids, one type of marine invertebrates, known to produce numbers of interesting metabolites with a various practical application, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammation. Aims of this investigation are to isolate, purify, and determine the structure of molecules from dichloromethane fraction of hydroid, Aglaophenia cupressina Lamouroux, and further test its antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Unexpectedly, $\beta$-sitosterol acetate was isolated with an amount of 9 mg and m.p 134-135 o C. A further testing against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli also gave an inhibition zone diameter of 11.5 and 8.15 respectively which considerably good for antibacterial agent