Antibacterial Activity of Skin Secretion of Bleeding Toad Leptophryne cruentata and Javan Tree Frog Rhacophorus margaritifer

Abstract

Bacterial resistance towards antibiotics has increased morbidity, mortality and health-care costs. Therefore, it is important to search for new types of antibacterial agents. This study was aimed to test antibacterial activity of epinephrine-stimulated skin secretions derived from two species of Anura endemic in Indonesia, the bleeding toad Leptophryne cruentata and the javan tree frog Rhacophorus margaritifer. The filter-sterilized skin secretions were subjected to antibacterial assay against Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Results showed that skin secretions of some toads and frogs have antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. We conclude that the toad and frog skin secretions have the potential to be used as a source of novel antibacterial agents. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on antibacterial activity of skin secretions of Leptophryne cruentata and Rhacophorus margaritifer from Indonesia.