Results of a large-scale screening programme to detect antifungal activity from marine and freshwater microalgae in laboratory culture

Abstract
Culture filtrates and organic solvent extracts of 132 marine and 400 freshwater microalgal cultures produced a total of 18 and six inhibitory effects, respectively, when screened against six test fungi. These results indicate that marine microalgae show more potential in the search for new antifungal agents than do freshwater species. No taxonomic trends were seen in the results. Organic solvent extraction of algal biomass appeared to be the most effective means of producing these inhibitory effects.