Utilizing plant-based resources, particularly their by-products, aligns with sustainability principles and circular bioeconomy, contributing to environmental preservation. The therapeutic potential ...of plant extracts is garnering increasing interest, and this study aimed to demonstrate promising outcomes from an extract obtained from an underutilized plant waste. Chaetomorpha linum , an invasive macroalga found in the Orbetello Lagoon, thrives in eutrophic conditions, forming persistent mats covering approximately 400 hectares since 2005. The biomass of C. linum undergoes mechanical harvesting and is treated as waste, requiring significant human efforts and economic resources—A critical concern for municipalities. Despite posing challenges to local ecosystems, the study identified C. linum as a natural source of bioactive metabolites. Phytochemical characterization revealed lipids, amino acids, and other compounds with potential anti-inflammatory activity in C. linum extract. In vitro assays with LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 and TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells showed the extract inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) productions, and reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions via NF-κB nuclear translocation, in RAW 264.7 cells. It also reduced chemokines (TARC/CCL17, RANTES/CCL5, MCP-1/CCL2, and IL-8) and the cytokine IL-1β production in HaCaT cells, suggesting potential as a therapeutic candidate for chronic diseases like atopic dermatitis. Finally, in silico studies indicated palmitic acid as a significant contributor to the observed effect. This research not only uncovered the untapped potential of C. linum but also laid the foundation for its integration into the circular bioeconomy, promoting sustainable practices, and innovative applications across various industries.
Marine macroalgae are increasingly recognized for their significant biological and economic potential. The key to unlocking this potential lies in the efficient degradation of all carbohydrates from ...the macroalgae biomass. However, a variety of polysaccharides (alginate, cellulose, fucoidan, and laminarin), are difficult to degrade simultaneously in a short time. In this study, the brown alga Saccharina japonica was found to be rapidly and thoroughly degraded by the marine bacterium Agarivorans albus B2Z047. This strain harbors a broad spectrum of carbohydrate-active enzymes capable of degrading various polysaccharides, making it uniquely equipped to efficiently break down both fresh and dried kelp, achieving a hydrolysis rate of up to 52%. A transcriptomic analysis elucidated the presence of pivotal enzyme genes implicated in the degradation pathways of alginate, cellulose, fucoidan, and laminarin. This discovery highlights the bacterium’s capability for the efficient and comprehensive conversion of kelp biomass, indicating its significant potential in biotechnological applications for macroalgae resource utilization.
Alkaloids are nitrogenous compounds with various biological activities. Alkaloids with anti-inflammatory activity are commonly found in terrestrial plants, but there are few records of the ...identification and characterization of the activity of these compounds in marine organisms such as fungi, bacteria, sponges, ascidians, and cnidarians. Seaweed are a source of several already elucidated bioactive compounds, but few studies have described and characterized the activity of seaweed alkaloids with anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, we have gathered the current knowledge about marine alkaloids with anti-inflammatory activity and suggest future perspectives for the study and bioprospecting of these compounds.
The rich polysaccharides in marine algae cells are the frontier hotspots in the field of marine biomedicine in the future. At present, the accumulation of polysaccharides in marine algae mainly ...focuses on macroalgae. Compared with macroalgae, marine microalgae have the advantages of wide variety, simple operation, and accurate measurement. They are potential marine biomedical germplasm resources that need to be tapped urgently. This paper started with the development of medicinal marine algae resources, the cultivation of medicinal marine algae, and the environmental assurance analysis of marine biopharmaceuticals, to find out the bottlenecks existing in marine biopharmaceuticals, and to explore feasible solutions. The new concept of "The whole chain of marine microalgae biopharmaceuticals" would lay the foundation for boosting maritime power and enhancing the economic benefits and market competitiveness of marine biomedicine.
High blood cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. A purified aqueous extract of Fucus vesiculosus, rich in phlorotannins and peptides, has been described for its ...potential to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and intestinal absorption. In this work, the effect of this extract on intestinal cells’ metabolites and proteins was analysed to gain a deeper understanding of its mode of action on lipids’ metabolism, particularly concerning the absorption and transport of exogenous cholesterol. Caco-2 cells, differentiated into enterocytes, were exposed to the extract, and analysed by untargeted metabolomics and proteomics. The results of the metabolomic analysis showed statistically significant differences in glutathione content of cells exposed to the extract compared to control cells, along with an increased expression of fatty acid amides in exposed cells. A proteomic analysis showed an increased expression in cells exposed to the extract compared to control cells of FAB1 and NPC1, proteins known to be involved in lipid metabolism and transport. To the extent of our knowledge, this study is the first use of untargeted metabolomics and a proteomic analysis to investigate the effects of F. vesiculosus on differentiated Caco-2 cells, offering insights into the molecular mechanism of the extract’s compounds on intestinal cells.
In order to explore the extraction and activity of macroalge glycolipids, six macroalgae (Bangia fusco-purpurea, Gelidium amansii, Gloiopeltis furcata, Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis, Gracilaria sp. ...and Pyropia yezoensis) glycolipids were extracted with five different solvents firstly. Considering the yield and glycolipids concentration of extracts, Bangia fusco-purpurea, Gracilaria sp. and Pyropia yezoensis were selected from six species of marine macroalgae as the raw materials for the extraction of glycolipids. The effects of the volume score of methanol, solid–liquid ratio, extraction temperature, extraction time and ultrasonic power on the yield and glycolipids concentration of extracts of the above three macroalgae were analyzed through a series of single-factor experiments. By analyzing the antioxidant activity in vitro, moisture absorption and moisturizing activity, the extraction process of Bangia fusco-purpurea glycolipids was further optimized by response surface method to obtain suitable conditions for glycolipid extraction (solid-liquid ratio of 1:27 g/mL, extraction temperature of 48 °C, extraction time of 98 min and ultrasonic power of 450 W). Bangia fusco-purpurea extracts exhibited a certain scavenging effect on DPPH free radicals, as well as good moisture-absorption and moisture retaining activities. Two glycolipids were isolated from Bangia fusco-purpurea by liquid–liquid extraction, silica gel column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography, and they showed good scavenging activities against DPPH free radicals and total antioxidant capacity. Their scavenging activities against DPPH free radicals were about 60% at 1600 µg/mL, and total antioxidant capacity was better than that of Trolox. Among them, the moisturizing activity of a glycolipid was close to that of sorbierite and sodium alginate. These two glycolipids exhibited big application potential as food humectants and antioxidants.
In recent years, marine organisms including seaweeds have been highlighted as potential sources of useful metabolites and bioactive compounds, with vast biological and physiological activities. ...Seaweeds have long been used as a food source, for medicinal purposes, and as dietary supplements in various Asian countries, and their potential benefits have recently attracted the attention of many Western and European countries. Their commercial value depends on their applications in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Seaweeds are considered a potential source of nutraceuticals or functional foods, and analysis of taste‐oriented motives has revealed that seaweeds are preferentially selected over other types of marine foods by seafood consumers and people with high levels of health, education, and living status. It is a general perception that health conscious people prefer environmentally friendly food sources, and present an opportunity to focus on seaweed‐based foods, which have significant nutritional benefits to humans. Among the various bioactive constituents, seaweed polysaccharides have been proven to possess various beneficial properties including anticoagulant, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral activities. The diversity and composition of seaweed polysaccharides play vital roles in these biological activities. Seaweeds are a rich source of sulfated polysaccharides, which are responsible for much of the bioactivity, as they can interact with various textures and cellular proteins. A number of toxicological assays and clinical trials suggest that the ingestion of seaweeds as functional foods should be considered worldwide to improve immune responses. In this review, different polysaccharides from seaweeds and their compositions and potential nutraceutical applications are discussed.
Extreme events have profound ecological impacts on species and ecosystems, including range contractions and collapse of entire ecosystems. Although theory predicts that extreme events cause loss of ...genetic diversity, empirical demonstrations are rare, obscuring implications for future adaptive capacity of species and populations. Here, we use rare genetic data from before an extreme event to empirically demonstrate massive and cryptic loss of genetic diversity across ∼800 km of underwater forests following the most severe marine heatwave on record. Two forest-forming seaweeds (Sargassum fallax and Scytothalia dorycarpa) lost ∼30%–65% of average genetic diversity within the 800-km footprint of the heatwave and up to 100% of diversity at some sites. Populations became dominated by single haplotypes that were often not dominant or present prior to the heatwave. Strikingly, these impacts were cryptic and not reflected in measures of forest cover used to determine ecological impact of the heatwave. Our results show that marine heatwaves can drive strong loss of genetic diversity, which may compromise adaptability to future climatic change.
•A marine heatwave caused massive loss of genetic diversity in underwater forests•Between 30% and 65% of average genetic diversity was lost across 800 km of coastline•Loss of genetic diversity was cryptic and not reflected in measures of forest cover•Marine heatwaves may compromise ability to respond to future climatic change
Extreme events have profound ecological impacts, but knowledge of how they affect underlying genetic diversity is scant. Gurgel et al. use rare empirical data from before a marine heatwave to demonstrate massive and cryptic loss of genetic diversity in underwater forests, which may compromise their ability to respond to future climatic change.
The exploitation of macroalgal biomass could provide novel environment-friendly molecules to prevent bacterial biofilm formation. Crude extracts, or polysaccharides, from the DNA-barcoded macroalgae ...Chaetomorpha aerea (Chlorophyta), and Agardhiella subulata and Hypnea cornuta (Rhodophyta) collected from the coastal brackish Lake of Ganzirri (Italy) were evaluated for their effects on biofilm formation of Listonella anguillarum, Vibrio harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus and Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida.
All bacterial strains were able to produce biofilm on polystyrene surfaces at different extents. Without exerting antibacterial activity, the crude polysaccharides showed dose-dependent inhibitory activity on the biofilm formation. At the highest concentration (400 μg/ml), the strongest reduction of biofilm formation was observed in the presence of C. aerea and A. subulata extracts against V. harveyi (59 and 53%, respectively), followed by the H. cornuta extract against P. piscicida (52%) and V. parahaemolyticus (28%). The extract from A. subulata was also active against the biofilm formation of P. piscicida (48%) and L. anguillarum (33%).
As resulted by the surface coating assay and the microbial adhesion onto hydrocarbons, the algal extracts were able to inhibit the adhesion of pathogens and modify their cell-surface properties and hydrophobicity. Moreover, all the extracts possessed high emulsifying activity (E24 up to 70%) and stabilizing capacity.
Based on two different in vivo assays, using Artemia salina and Danio rerio, all the extracts showed no potential toxicity for aquaculture application.
Our results suggest that the antibiofilm activity of algal extracts is related to the inhibition of the early bacterial adhesion. Consequently, these non-toxic and biodegradable polysaccharides, with surfactant and antiadhesive properties, could be proposed to prevent biofilms in aquaculture.
•Seaweeds provide environment-friendly molecules to prevent biofilms in aquaculture.•Crude extracts from red and green algae reduce biofilm formation of pathogens.•Polysaccharides prevent the initial adherence acting as surfactants and antiadhesives.•Algal extracts showed no in vivo toxicity against Artemia salina and Danio rerio.•Our extracts could be proposed to develop antibiofilm measures in aquaculture.
Marine algae have been emerging as natural sources of bioactive compounds, such as soluble dietary fibers and peptides, presenting special interest as ingredients for functional foods. This study ...developed a cheese spread incorporating red seaweed Osmundea pinnatifida extract and subsequently characterized it in terms of nutritional, pH, and microbiological parameters and bioactivities including prebiotic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antioxidant activities. This food was produced through incorporation of O. pinnatifida extract (3%), obtained via enzymatic extraction Viscozyme L in a matrix containing whey cheese (75%) and Greek-type yoghurt (22%). The product was then subjected to thermal processing and subsequently stored for 21 days at 4 °C. During storage, this food showed a high pH stability (variations lower than 0.2 units), the absence of microbial contamination and all tested bioactivities at the sampling timepoints 0 and 21 days. Indeed, it exerted prebiotic effects under Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5sup.® and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12sup.® , increasing their viability to around 4 and 0.5 log CFU/g, respectively. In addition, it displayed antidiabetic (α-glucosidase inhibition: 5-9%), antihypertensive (ACE inhibition: 50-57%), and antioxidant (ABTS: 13-15%; DPPH: 3-5%; hydroxyl radical: 60-76%) activities. In summary, the cheese spread produced may be considered an innovative food with high potential to contribute toward healthier status and well-being of populations.
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