COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL EFFECTS OF SNAIL MUCIN ON STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND CANDIDA

Abstract

This study examined the Comparative Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of Snail Mucin on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The work was motivated by the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, which has reduced the efficacy of conventional antibiotics and antifungal agents. Snail mucin (Achatina fulica) was extracted and tested using the agar well diffusion and broth dilution methods to assess its inhibitory potential against S. aureus and C. albicans. Results revealed concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity, with the highest inhibition zones at 100% mucin concentration for both organisms. Staphylococcus aureus showed greater susceptibility (22.4 ± 0.5 mm) compared to Candida albicans (19.6 ± 0.3 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 25% for S. aureus and 50% for C. albicans, while the minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations (MBC/MFC) were 50% and 75%, respectively. These findings confirm that snail mucin possesses bioactive compounds such as peptides and glycoproteins responsible for broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The study concludes that snail mucin could serve as a natural alternative or complementary therapy in combating resistant bacterial and fungal infections. Further purification and in vivo evaluation of its active constituents are recommended.