In vitro ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF EXTR ACTS AND PURIFIED FR ACTIONS FROM THE MARINE SPONGE Suberites aff. latus (Demospongiae, Suberitida, Suberitidae) FROM ICA, PERU

Marine sponges constitute a recognized source of metabolites with potential antibacterial activity. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of the marine sponge Suberites aff. latus from Ica, Peru, was evaluated. Lyophilized sponge samples were extracted using dichloromethane:methanol (1:1), and fractionated by solid-phase extraction into seven fractions (F1–F7), ranging from aqueous to organic polarity. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined against Gram-positive/negative bacterial strains from the ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) collection. The results showed that the highest activity was observed in fraction F6 of specimen 01J against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as in fraction F3 of specimen 02J against K. pneumoniae. Qualitative chemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids and saponins in the samples. These findings highlight the potential of Suberites aff. latus from the Peruvian coast as a promising source of antibacterial compounds.