Marine Bioactive Compounds Derived from Macroalgae as New Potential Players in Drug Delivery Systems: A Review.

The marine algal ecosystem is characterized by a rich ecological biodiversity and can be considered as an unexploited resource for the discovery and isolation of novel bioactive compounds. In recent years, marine macroalgae have begun to be explored for their valuable composition in bioactive compounds and opportunity to obtain different nutraceuticals. In comparison with their terrestrial counterparts, Black Sea macroalgae are potentially good sources of bioactive compounds with specific and unique biological activities, insufficiently used. Macroalgae present in different marine environments contain several biologically active metabolites, including polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols, proteins polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. As a result, they have received huge interest given their promising potentialities in supporting antitumoral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective properties. An additional advantage of ulvans, fucoidans and carrageenans is the biocompatibility and limited or no toxicity. This therapeutic potential is a great natural treasure to be exploited for the development of novel drug delivery systems in both preventive and therapeutic approaches. This overview aims to provide an insight into current knowledge focused on specific bioactive compounds, which represent each class of macroalgae e.g., ulvans, fucoidans and carrageenans, respectively, as valuable potential players in the development of innovative drug delivery systems.

Comparative Palynological, Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Romanian Honey Varieties for Biomedical Applications.

The aim of this study was to investigate the melissopalynology, physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of seven honey samples harvested from different geographical regions and climates of Romania. The melissopalynological analysis revealed that monofloral and multifloral samples contained a wide diversity of minor pollen types from Romanian flora. The moisture, pH and free acidity values were within international limit. HPLC analysis indicated high content of fructose and glucose and low content of sucrose. Bioactive compounds including proteins, phenolics, flavonoids and ascorbic acid were present in variable quantities, according to the botanical origin and geographical area. The highest phenolics and ascorbic acid content was in multifloral honeys from Crisana mountain and meadow and the extrafloral honeydew honey. The same honey samples have exerted free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The free radical scavenging activity was strongly correlated to phenolics and ascorbic acid content, while the antimicrobial activity was medium correlated only to phenolics content. In conclusion, the selected Romanian honey samples with best antioxidant and antimicrobial activity could be further tested for the development of novel biomedical products.