GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS AND PRODUCTION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM SELECTED NOVEL STREPTOMYCES SPECIES ISOLATED FROM SELECTED KENYAN NATIONAL PARKS

Abstract

The aim of study was to characterize growth of novel Streptomyces  isolates as well as the secondary metabolites they were producing. Four Streptomyces isolates from Chyulu National Park (Chy 4-10, Chy 15-10, Chy 15-5 and Chy 2-3) and one from Ruma National Park (Ruj 7-1) were studied. The isolates grew well at pH 6, 7, 9  and temperatures of 27.5 oC, 30  oC, and 32.5  oC. They preferentially utilized glucose and xylose and also required sodium chloride (0 g/l – 17.5 g/l) for growth. Antimicrobial products were extracted using ethyl acetate and the crude secondary metabolite extracts analyzed using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS). 0.54 g/l, 0.62 g/l, 0.41 g/l, 0.3 g/l and 0.14 g/l yields of crude secondary metabolites were extracted from the isolates. The crude secondary metabolites had different levels of activity against Gram positive and Gram negative test bacteria. Characterization of the crude secondary metabolites indicated presence of chemical compounds ranging from amides, amines, acids, pyrrolizidines, butenolides, alcohols and hydrocarbons.