Soy and Algae Combination Using Tempe FermentationMethod: A Proposed Opinion for the Development of Functional Food / Combinación de soja y algas usando el método de fermentación de Tempe: una propuesta de opinión para el desarrollo de alimentos funcionales

Backgrounds and Aims: Marine algae and plant-basedprotein have gained popularity among the most sought-afterfunctional food ingredients and appeared as emerging trendsfor functional food. Combining ingredients that are wellknown to exert beneficial properties towards health can beconsidered an innovative strategy for developing novel func-tional foods. Each functional ingredient may contribute differ-ently to health promotion and complement the beneficialproperties of other components, thus increasing the overallhealth values of novel functional foods. In addition, these in-gredients may exhibit synergistic activities that would improvethe functionality of novel functional foods. Therefore, we pro-pose that combining marine algae in the fermentation oftempe would be an innovative strategy to create a novel soy-bean-based functional food. This opinion-review article wouldprovide a thorough insight into the conception, feasibility, andfurther research regarding the algae-tempe combination as afuture functional food. Results and Conclusions: The supplementation of ma-rine algae in the fermentation of tempe would open a newhorizon about novel soybean-based functional food.Introducing marine algae in tempe production would bringadditional compounds that might not be naturally present insoybeans. These compounds are subject to mold fermenta-tion. We suggest that marine algae would improve the nutri-tional value of tempe by providing additional carbohydratesand protein. We suggest algal supplementation in tempe fer-mentation could be done by incorporating freeze-dried algalpowder into the pre-boiled soybeans and starters before fer-mentation. We also suspect that algal polysaccharides mightaffect the texture of the tempe and bind water required formold growth during fermentation. Therefore, the fermenta-tion parameters for this product would need optimizing.(AU)

Anti-cancer properties of Caulerpa racemosa by altering expression of Bcl-2, BAX, cleaved caspase 3 and apoptosis in HeLa cancer cell culture.

The main cause of cervical cancer is infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Loss of apoptotic control allows cancer cells to survive longer and allows time for mutation accumulation thereby increasing the ability to invade during tumor development. Treatment options for cervical cancer today are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Toxicity to normal cells, adverse side effects, and drug resistance are the main barriers to the use of chemotherapy. Among marine organisms such as bacteria, fungi, actinobacteria, and seaweed have been used for the treatment of cancer. Caulerpa has bioactive metabolites, namely alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids and tannins and its bioactivity has been reported against many diseases including cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of C. racemosa on HeLa cervical cancer cells. The study used a true experimental post-test only control group design to determine the effect of C. racemosa extract on HeLa cancer cells. C. racemosa extract was given in doses of 50 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL, 200 µg/mL, and 0 µg/mL as controls. Quantitative measurement of apoptosis was measured using flowcytometry and the expression of Bcl-2, BAX, and cleaved-caspase 3 as pro and anti-apoptotic proteins was measured using immunofluorescence. Trypan blue exclusion test was performed to measure cell viability. C. racemosa extract significantly increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and cleaved caspase-3 compared to controls. Annexin V-PI analysis showed the induction of apoptosis in treated cells and decreased HeLa cell viability at 24 hours and 48 hours post-treatment (p-value <0.05). C. racemosa extract has potential as an anti-cancer with pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cancer cells and can be explored further as a cervical cancer therapy.