Nine of ten gorgonian extracts from all four families tested showed antimicrobial activity. Inhibition of Gram positive bacteria was more widespread than that of Gram negative bacteria. Inhibition of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was confined to (and widespread within) the family Ellisellidae. No antifungal activity against Aspergillus sp. was found in all the extracts tested. Acute (6 hr) and chronic (24 hr) extract toxicity towards Artemia salina varied between extracts and showed no taxonomic correlations; compared to potassium dichromate, extract toxicity was low. Chronic exposure to the extracts was more effective in killing A. salina; chronic LD50 values ranged from 3.2 to 125.9 mg/ml. All ten extracts failed to extend survival, lower percentage parasitemia or affect parasite morphology in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.
