Abstract This study aims to evaluate the secondary metabolites, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of four selected seaweeds Padina pavonica, Taonia atomaria, Jania rubens, and Corallina elongata. The maximum value of phenolic content (176.7 ± 6.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g crude extract) and tannin content (26.5 ± 4.3 mg tannic acid equivalents/g crude extract), was shown in the methanol extract of J. rubens and P. pavonica, respectively. While the ethanol extract of T. atomaria recorded the highest values of total flavonoid content (374.1 ±27.4 mg quercetin equivalents/g crude extract) and total saponins content (30.2 ± 0.7 mg cholesterol equivalents/g crude extract, respectively) compared to other seaweeds. Methanol extract of J. rubens and C. elongata exhibited the greatest content of alkaloids (25.8 ± 4.4 and 22.7 ± 2.6 mg/g d wt.). The methanol extract of P. pavonica established the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (55.7% ± 0.1) at 50 μg/mL. Among the selected seaweed extracts, the ethanol extract of T. atomaria demonstrated the maximum α-amylase inhibition capacity (66.3% ± 0.0). Methanol extract of J. rubens and P. pavonica species effectively prevented the hypotonicity-induced haemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner compared with the diclofenac potassium as a standard anti-inflammatory drug. In vitro, the reported results also supported the safety and non-toxicity of the four seaweed extracts on WI-38 cell line at lower concentrations. J. rubens and P. pavonica methanol extracts recorded the highest cell growth inhibition of the HeLa Cancer Cell Lines compared to other seaweed extracts and the standard drug Cisplatin.

Abstract The current study estimated the antioxidant activity and biochemical composition of four seaweeds; Toania atomaria (Phaeophyta), Padina pavonia (Phaeophyta), Jania rubens (Rhodophyta) and Corallina elongate (Rhodophyta). The highest total antioxidant activity was observed with ethanol extract of T. atomaria (44.6 ± 1.6 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g crude extract). Among the four seaweeds, ethanol extract of T. atomaria has recorded the highest value in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay (32.3 ± 0.0 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g crude extract). The uppermost level of carbohydrates was (20.4% ± 0.4 and 19.5% ± 0.7 dry wt.) in P. pavonia and T. atomaria. Proteins were maximum (10.5% ± 0.6 and 8.0% ± 0.0 dry wt.) in P. pavonia and T. atomaria. The results detected that T. atomaria had the largest amounts of lipids (5.92% ± 0.09 dry wt.). The polyunsaturated ω6 essential fatty acids were recorded in T.atomaria, P. pavonia, and J. rubens (11.39%, 8.09%, and 6.28%), and ω3 essential fatty acids were recorded in T. atomaria and P. pavonia (0.65% and 0.97%). The seaweeds are interesting candidates for medicinal, pharmaceutical, and nutritional applications owing to their antioxidant activities, biochemical composition; they are not widespread in the coastal waters of Egypt and has few studies, especially T. atomaria.

Tributyltin (TBT) is recognized as a major environmental problem at a global scale. Haloalkaliphilic tributyltin (TBT)-degrading bacteria may be a key factor in the remediation of TBT polluted sites. In this work, three haloalkaliphilic bacteria strains were isolated from a TBT-contaminated site in the Mediterranean Sea. After analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences the isolates were identified as Sphingobium sp. HS1, Stenotrophomonas chelatiphaga HS2 and Rhizobium borbori HS5. The optimal growth conditions for biodegradation of TBT by the three strains were pH 9 and 7% (w/v) salt concentration. S. chelatiphaga HS2 was the most effective TBT degrader and has the ability to transform most TBT into dibutyltin and monobutyltin (DBT and MBT). A gene was amplified from strain HS2 and identified as TBTB-permease-like, that encodes an ArsB-permease. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis in the HS2 strain confirmed that the TBTB-permease-like gene contributes to TBT resistance. The three novel haloalkaliphilic TBT degraders have never been reported previously.

Se considera a la tributiltina (TBT) como un problema medioambiental serio a escala global. Las bacterias haloalcalifílicas degradadoras de TBT pueden constituir un factor clave para remediar áreas contaminadas con dicho xenobiótico. En este estudio se aislaron 3 cepas de bacterias haloalcalifílicas procedentes de un sitio contaminado con TBT en el mar Mediterráneo. Tras analizar las secuencias del gen de 16S del ARNr, se identificaron los aislados como Sphingo-bium sp. HS1, Stenotrophomonas chelatiphaga HS2 y Rhizobium borbori HS5. Las condiciones de crecimiento óptimas para la biodegradación de TBT por parte de las 3 cepas fueron pH 9 y 7% (p/v) de concentración de sal. S. chelatiphaga HS2 fue el degradador de TBT más efectivo, con capacidad de transformar la mayor parte de ese compuesto en dibutiltina y monobutiltina (DBT y MBT). Se amplificó un gen de la cepa HS2, que fue identificado como tipo TBTB-permeasa, que codifica para una ArsB permeasa. Un análisis de la cepa HS2 por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa (RT PCR) confirmó que el gen TBTB-permeasa contribuye a la resistencia al TBT. Estos 3 nuevos degradadores haloalcalifílicos de TBT no habían sido reportados previamente.

In the present study, the effects of Spirulina on subchronic treatments (two weeks) of hyperlipidemia and liver function of the rats and humans were investigated. The hyperlipidemia was induced in the rats using 25% of soya bean oil and 25% butter. The butter induced more hyperlipidemia than soya bean oil. Spirulina was used at the concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 % of diet weight of the rats. The decrease in hyperlipidemia by Spirulina was dependent on its concentration in the diet. In case of human studies, about four g/day of Spirulina was taken via oral administration by Egyptian volunteers patients with hyperlipidemia. Spirulina decreased the levels of hyperlipidemia in these patients. The effects were dependent on the amount and number of administered dose of Sprirulina. The results suggested that the Spirulina treatment could induce marked reduction of aminotransferase through correcting lipid profile and increasing high density lipoprotein.

The effect of industrial wastewater on the Nile cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena limnetica and Anabaena wisconsinense was investigated. The data showed that P. limnetica was more sensitive to pollution than A. wisconsinense. The treatments with different levels of wastewater exerted pronounced reductions in protein and amino acids content. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the cyanobacteria grown in the industrial wastewater showed induction in the synthesis of certain polypeptides and repression of others. The treatments of P. limnetica with wastewater stimulated the appearance of six protein bands with molecular masses of 28, 30, 31, 32, 58 and 97 kDa. The same treatments caused the disappearance of 20, 38 and 56 kDa. The structural protein pattern of the treated A. wisconsinense showed appearance of 16, 30, 170 and 230 kDa and disappearance of 56 kDa. The treatment of the two investigated cyanobacteria with different levels of wastewater stimulated the biosyntheses of different amino acids and inhibited others.

O efeito do NaCl na cadeia transportadora de elétrons foi investigado na alga verde Chlorella vulgaris. Observou-se que a taxa de liberação de oxigênio sob condições de equilíbrio e de flash de luz diminuía à medida que se aumentava a concentração de sal. O tratamento com NaCl também diminuiu o rendimento da fluorescência e retardou o da luminescência. No entanto, o rendimento da fluorescência foi quase inteiramente restaurado pela adição de um doador artificial de elétrons. O padrão de oscilação da banda de termoluminescência B como função do números de flashes indicou que a transição S2 --> S3 do sistema de fotooxidação da água era inibida pelo tratamento com NaCl.

The effect of sodium chloride on the photosynthetic electron transport chain was investigated in the freshwater green alga Chlorella vulgaris. It was found that the rate of oxygen evolution under steady state and flash light conditions diminished by increasing salt concentrations. Salt treatment of cells also decreased the fluorescence and delayed luminescence yields. However, the fluorescence yield was almost completely restored by the addition of an artificial electron donor to the NaCl-treated cells. The oscillation pattern of the thermoluminescence B band as a function of flash number indicated that the S2<FONT FACE=Symbol>®</FONT>S3 transition of the water splitting system is inhibited by NaCl treatment.