ECOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND GC-MS ANALYSIS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SACOGLOSSAN ELYSIA BANGTAWAENSIS (SWENNEN)

Abstract

Elysia bangtawaensis Swennen (sacoglossan) was reported from intertidal mangrove habitat from the polyhaline zone of Mandovi estuary, Goa. The detailed ecological survey of the mangrove region of Goa revealed that the density of E. bangtawaensis ranged from 0 (July, August) to 400 (January) individuals m-2 and were found to be mainly depends on phytoplankton population, their exposure to the sunlight (no. of low tides in day time) and moderately on other parameters such as salinity, pH and temperature (air and water). Moreover, GC-MS analysis of methanolic extract of E. bangtawaensis showed major constituents of fatty acids such as myristic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid etc. The presence of such bioactive compounds (identified as fatty acid) justifies the use of whole animal in pharmaceutical application.