MASS SPECTROMETRIC IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM MARINE SEAGRASS – CYMODOCAEA SERRULATA (R. BROWN) ASCHERSON & MAGNUS AND ITS ASSOCIATED BACTERIA BACILLUS CEREUS

A marine sea-grass Cymodocaea serrulata was collected, dried and extracted with a different solvent. The presences of phytochemical constituents were confirmed and the ethyl acetate extraction was considered to be a suitable solvent. In addition, the crude seagrass was serially diluted and spread onto the Zobell Marine Agar plates. Among the eight colonies obtained, the red-pigmented bacterium (CS8) which was identified as Bacillus cereus (MG890216.1) through 16S rRNA was selected for further studies. Subsequently, the secondary metabolites from seagrass and its bacterial pellet of ethyl acetate extract were detected through Mass Spectroscopic analysis. On comparison of MS spectrum of the seagrass phenolic derivatives such as p-Coumaric acid (163Da), syringic acid (197Da), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxy benzoic acid (213Da), Oleuropine derivative (334Da) and 1-acetoxy pinoresinol (415Da) were found to be major compound. GC-MS revealed the major unknown compound as Androst-5-En-3.Beta.-Ol, 4; 4-Dimethyl-and Acetate which is a steroidal unsaturated carboxylate had not been reported from any sources so far and along with seven other known compounds in the bacterial pellet. In addition to this, hydrolysis of casein and starch shows that the bacterial strain has the ability to produce protease and amylase enzyme. In this conclusion, as a new trial, we have targeted secondary metabolites from both seagrasses as host and from its microbiome.