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Published on: October 9, 2016
Environmental and geochemical determinants of bioactive organic constituents in peloids: Implications for
Zlatko Nikolovski1, Aleksandra Šajnović1, Irena Novaković1
1University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Njegoševa 12, Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract:
Peloids represent integrative environmental matrices that accumulate organic matter derived from surrounding terrestrial and microbial sources, thereby reflecting local environmental conditions. However, the antibacterial potential of peloids' organic matter remains largely unexplored and demands monitoring. This study investigates how environmentally controlled variations in precursor biomass across spa locations influence the distribution of bioactive organic constituents and their antibacterial potential, by characterizing extractable organic matter (EOM) from Serbian peloids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluating antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antibacterial potency varied among samples and did not correlate with extract yield, which ranged from 249 ppm to 3032 ppm, but instead with molecular composition. Susceptibility differed among tested organisms, with Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus being most sensitive, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium sporogenes were comparatively resistant. Among the studied samples, the Koviljača extract exhibited the highest potency (MIC 0.31 mg mL-1) against most strains, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium sporogenes. The GC-MS analysis revealed that this sample was enriched in plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes (n-C27-n-C31), diterpenoids (16(α)-phyllocladane and isopimarane), benzoic acid esters, aldehydes, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters. These results demonstrate that antibacterial activity arises from environmentally controlled compositional features of natural organic matter rather than extract yield, highlighting the importance of local environmental conditions in shaping the therapeutic potential of peloids. Overall, this study highlights therapeutic peloids as an underexplored yet promising natural source of bioactive organic compounds with antimicrobial potential.
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