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Antifouling paint was introduced and utilized as a control to prevent the problem of biofouling. The Methanolic Crude Extract (MCE) and the Essential Oil (EO) were extracted from Melaleuca cajuputi. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the metabolite profiles. An antibacterial assay was conducted via the disc diffusion technique and an antifouling assay of MCE and EO of M. cajuputi was investigated using a crystal violet assay and painted steel panels incorporating MCE and EO. Painted steel panels were immersed in the aquarium to measure the antibiofilm activity and in the natural sea environment to observe the settlement of foulers. The MCE exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, indicating narrow-spectrum activity, while EO has broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and −negative bacteria. The GC-MS profile showed the presence of cycloheptasiloxane, tetradecamethyl-, cyclotrisiloxane, hexamethyl-, terpinene-4-ol, caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole in both MCE and EO of M. cajuputi. Crystal violet assay revealed that both samples reduced the attachment of biofilm form by Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 61% and 60%. Panel painted with paint incorporated 5% MCE inhibits bacteria growth in natural seawater, followed by 10% MCE, 5% EO, and 10% EO in aquarium testing. Referring to photographic observation, all the panels coated with paint incorporated with samples successfully reduced the attachment of foulers compared to Blank Paint (BP). In conclusion, these findings indicated that the MCE and EO of M. cajuputi could potentially be used as a substitute for toxic antifoulants to prevent the formation of microfoulers.
Farizan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.