Effectiveness of tetrodotoxin extracted from the Puffer fish -Lagocephalus suezensis- against some bacteria causing skin ulcers

Laboratory experiment on one sample

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of tetrodotoxin (TTX) extract derived from the toxic oragans of the pufferfish -Lagocephalus suezensis- against  bacteria causing skin ulcers in humans, a common clinical condition often complicated by bacterial infections that delay healing. Key causative agents include -Staphylococcus aureus- and -Pseudomonas aeruginosa-.

Fish samples were collected, and the toxin was extracted from the liver gonads, skin, and muscles using a chemical extraction method. The efficacy to the extract was then tested against the bacterial isolates using the disk diffusion method at varios concentrations.

The results showed a clear inhibitory effect of the extract against all tested bacterial strains. The highest susceptibility was observed in -Staphylococcus aureus-, with a mean inhibition zone diameter of 3.2 cm at a concentration of 1 µg/ml, followed by                           -Pseudomonas aeruginosa-. This indicates the potential of tetrodotoxin as a promising natural antibiotic for the treatment of certain human diseases, particularly in light of the growing problem of bacterial antibiotic resistance. However, its high toxicity must be considered, and further studies are essential before any clinical application.