Neuroprotective and nephroprotective effects of Ircinia sponge in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) induced toxicity in animal model: a pharmacological and computational approach.

The present study investigated the neuroprotective and nephroprotective effects of the sponge Ircinia sp. ethyl acetate extract (ISPE) against persistent aromatic pollutants in vitro and in vivo. Different exponential experimental assays were applied to this study. An in vitro study to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of ISPE using antioxidants (for example, ABTS and DPPH) and anti-Alzheimer assays (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase); the in-vivo study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of ISPE as neuroprotective and nephroprotective against the destructive effect of PAH. Several assays included oxidative assays (LPO), antioxidant biomarkers (GSH, GST), and inflammatory and neurodegenerative biomarkers (PTK,SAA). Additionally, the results were confirmed using histopathological examination. The in silico screening study improved the in vitro and in vivo findings through interaction between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and the polyphenolic content of ISPE extract, which was determined using LCMSM. The results and discussion showed that ISPE exhibited a promising antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity as evidenced by IC50 values of 49.74, 28.25, and 0.18 µg/mL in DPPH, ABTS, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition assays, respectively. In vivo, the study showed that animals receiving ISPE before poly aromatic hydrocarbons administration PAHs (Prot, ISPE) showed significant amelioration in kidney functions manifested by the reduction of serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine by 40.6%, 66.4%, and 134.8%, respectively, concerning PAH-injected mice (HAA). Prot, ISPE revealed a decline in malondialdehyde (MDA) and total proteins (TP) in kidney and brain tissues by 73.63% and 50.21%, respectively, for MDA and 59.82% and 80.41%, respectively, for TP with respect to HAA. Prot, ISPE showed significant elevation in reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione transferase (GST) in kidney and brain tissues and reduction in the inflammatory and pre-cancerous biomarkers, namely, serum protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and serum amyloid A (SAA). These findings were further supported by histopathological examination of kidney and brain tissues, which revealed normal structure approaching normal control. Metabolic profiling of ISPE using LC-MS-MS showed the presence of fourteen polyphenolic compounds belonging mainly to phenolic acids and flavonoids. In silico study revealed that all the tested compounds exerted certain binding with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, where rutin showed the best fitting (ΔG = - 7.6 kcal/mol-1) with considerable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties revealed from in silico ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) study. Hence, it can be concluded that the Ircinia sponge showed a promising protective effect versus kidney and brain toxicity triggered by PAHs.

Distribution, bioavailability, and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic heavy metals in El-Burullus Lake sediments, Egypt.

El-Burullus Lake is the second largest coastal lagoon in Egypt in addition to its connection to the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, geochemical fractionations of heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr and Zn) were investigated after the great efforts made to rehabilitate and restore the lake by the Egyptian Government. The results indicated that F4 (residual fraction) was the dominant fraction for all studied metals followed by F3 (oxidizable fraction). That means the majority of studied metals source in the lake is lithogenic. Contamination by each individual heavy metal or multi elements was low according to individual contamination factor (ICF) and global contamination factor (GCF). Risk assessment code (RAC) classification showed that Cd and Cu exhibited low risk, Zn was of moderate risk, whereas, other metals are safe. The toxicity calculated by toxic risk index (TRI) indicating that no toxic risk was expected in the Lake.

The hepatoprotective candidates by synergistic formula of marine and terrestrial against Acetaminophen toxicity using in-vitro, in-vivo, and in silico screening approach.

Background: One of the most regularly used hepatotoxic medicines is paracetamol (acetaminophen, N-acetyl-p-aminophenol; APAP). It causes liver failure in overdoses but is safe at therapeutic dosages. Combination therapy combining many natural compounds with a synergistic impact as hepatoprotective agents has become an essential therapeutic method against various disorders. Objective: Due to the lack of literature on paracetamol's effects on hematological and hepatic status parameters in male albino mice, the main goal of this study was to compare the hepatoprotective activities of a mixture of three marine-derived polyphenolics and polysaccharides (Sargassum vulgare Bacillus oceanisediminis, and alginic acids) to Chrysanthemum extract and the mixture of them. Methods: Sargassumvulgare, Bacillus Oceanisediminis, and alginate, as well as Chrysanthemum ethanol extracts, were tested for APAP-induced liver damage. Group 1 received saline solution subcutaneously, while Group 2 received 500 mg/kg body weight/day APAP intraperitoneal. Group 3 got 200 mg/day algal extract i.p. As in group 3, group 4 got an i.p. dose of 200 mg of algal extract before the APAP dose. This group was protected by Sargassum vulgare extract. Group 5: Received 200 mg/100 g/body of Bacillus oceanisediminis extracts i.p. for one week. Group 6: Received 200 mg/body of Bacillus oceanisediminis extract i.p. for one week before APAP treatment. Alginate (p200 mg/body weight/day) was given to Group 7. As in group 7, group 8 received 200 mg/body weight/day alginate extract i.p. before APAP. Group 9: Chrysanthemum extracts 200 mg/day for a week. Group 10: got an i.p. dose of Chrysanthemum extracts for one week before the APAP dose. Group 11: Four mixed extracts (Bacillus Oceanisediminis, Sargassum vulgare, Chrysanthemum, and alginate) were i.p200 mg/day for one week as a positive (+ve) control group. Group 12: Received i.p200 mg/kg combination extract for one week before APAP. Results: Due to their synergistic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, marine extracts and combinations of marine-derived extracts demonstrated a great effect against APAP toxicity, demonstrating hepatoprotective potential against APAP-induced liver damage. Conclusion: The synergy of the three marine-derived combinations may lead to novel liver toxicity prevention agents.

Microplastics contamination in commercial fish from Alexandria City, the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt.

Plastic waste is a major threat to various marine ecosystems. Due to being semi-enclosed basin with dense population, the Mediterranean Sea has been considered as a hot spot for plastic pollution. Alexandria was listed as one of the major cities contributing to plastic waste in the eastern Mediterranean basin. Accordingly, microplastics (MPs) abundance and composition were investigated in the digestive tracts of commercial fish species from two major fishing areas in Alexandria; Abu-Qir Bay and Eastern Harbor, which are affected by plastic pollution. The incidence and average densities of MPs were 91.8 ± 8.4% and 11.7 ± 9.5 items fish-1, similar to highly polluted regions in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. The average MPs concentration was significantly higher in Sparus aurata (38.3 ± 28.4 items fish-1) than all species, except for Siganus rivulatus and Boops boops. Polyethylene and poly ethylene-vinyl acetate were the dominant polymers in the fish digestive tracts. Four types of plastic polymers were recorded in Siganus rivulatus and five in Parupeneus macronemus. The dominance of glossy fragments (sizes <500 µm) in Abu-Qir Bay indicated land-based source of pollution from domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes. The dominance of larger plastic filaments and colored fragments in the Eastern Harbor suggested secondary MPs, originating from the fragmentation of larger plastic items of sea-based sources, such as fishing and recreational activities.

Characterization and distribution of plastic particles along Alexandria beaches, Mediterranean Coast of Egypt, using microscopy and thermal analysis techniques.

Microplastics (MPs) contamination has become a global concern with potential impacts on the marine environment. Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt and a significant contributor of plastic litter inputs into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The current study provides an in-depth analysis of the plastic particles accumulated along Alexandria beaches. Types, composition, and potential sources of MPs were investigated using microscopy and thermal analysis. A mean value of 389.1 ± 285.9 items kg-1 dry weight was detected in the shore sediments similar to other records from the Eastern Mediterranean region. An average of 457.4 ± 281.8 items m-3 was recorded in the surface water, which was the highest recorded MPs density in onshore waters of the Mediterranean region. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that plastics made up 0.5% - 72% of the materials extracted from the sediment samples, and 0.58% - 20.6% from the water samples. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) identified ten semi-crystalline polymers. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) were the common polymers. The single-use plastic bags and detergents were the land-based sources of marine plastic litter. The sea-based sources included antifouling paints, maintenance of ships, and abandoned fishing gears. Proper management plans of domestic waste input, polluter-pay strategy, and education programs aiming at the Fishermen and how plastic pollution would impact their livelihood are urgently needed.

Metal bioavailability, toxicity, and ecological risk due to sediments of a lately rehabilitated lake (Mariut, Egypt).

Sediments from Lake Mariut, Egypt, after its rehabilitation, and its anoxic diverted polluted drains were subjected to five sequential steps to define different geochemical fractions of eight studied metals. Results cleared out that 30-50% of its total Cd and total Co contents are easily bioavailable with a high-risk assessment code (RAC) to enter the food chain in the lake basin. Whereas Cu and Fe are safe and the remaining studied metals, i.e., Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cr are of medium risk for the environment. Individual contamination factor (ICF) is high (> 6) for all the studied metals except for Fe and Cu which are tightly held in sediments confirming their safeness to biota. Cadmium accounted for > 94% of the total risk in the study area. Metal pollution loading (MPL) from the sediments was found in the order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Co > Cd.

Ameliorative role of Ulva extract against heavy metal mixture-induced cardiovascular through oxidative/antioxidant pathways and inflammatory biomarkers.

The current study investigates the therapeutic and curative effect of Ulva lactuca polyphenolic extract (ULPE) in general and particularly polyphenolics compounds against heavy metal mixture (HME). The toxicity behind heavy metal is due to oxidative stress resulted from heavy metals pollution or administration through contaminated food (vegetables, water, and fish). Heavy metal toxicity plays a major role in different cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study is aimed to examine the protective effect of ULPE against heavy metal mixture induced cardiovascular diseases through oxidative/antioxidant and inflammatory pathways. Sixty male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were assigned to six groups. Group I served as the control, group II served as the induced group receiving subcutaneously for 7 days 0.25 mg/100 gm body weight/day heavy metal mixtures (Equal concentration of Ni, Cd, Co and Hg chloride, and Pb acetate), group III received (i.p.) ULPE of dose 30 mg for 15 days, group IV served as the protected group pretreated with ULPE for 15 days as a protection dose, and then treated with the heavy metal-mixture, group V served as protected standard group pretreated with vitamin C (VitC ) (50 mg/Kg) and then treated with the heavy metal-mixture, and group VI served as standard group treated with VitC (50 mg/Kg). The main pathological changes within the heart revealed heart inflammation after heavy-metal mixtures administrations. On contrast to the protected group treated with ULPE (group IV), the protection group (group II) showed a significant increase in the antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory biomarker. The cardiovascular biomarkers (Troponin T, CRP, and BNP) showed similar attitude elevations in induction group and decreased greatly in protection and VitC group. The antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory activities of ULPE are a consequence of their higher polyphenolic contents as well as marine secondary metabolites which are confirmed using qualitative and quantitative analysis. From the current result, we concluded that ULPE possesses a cardiovascular protective agent as a result of highly contents of different bioactive secondary metabolites which have antioxidant as well as free-radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activates. Showed the mechanism of ULPE as cardioprotective against heavy metal mixture.

Red algae natural products for prevention of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced liver and kidney inflammation and injuries.

BACKGROUND: The liver and kidney inflammation due to bacterial infection is one of the most common pathological problems leading to tissue damage or disease. In many liver and kidney disorders, which represent serious global health burden with a high economic cost, oxidative stress-related inflammation and apoptosis are important pathogenic components, finally resulting in acute liver and/or kidney failure. Erythropoietin and its analogues are well known to influence the interaction between apoptosis and inflammation in liver and kidney. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to investigate and clarify the effect of Gromphadorhina oblongata red algae on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced acute liver and kidney injury of mice with endotoxemia and associated molecular mechanism from inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress levels. RESULTS: The current study cleared out that treatment of rats with the G. oblongata extract prior to LPS injection significantly lowered serum cytokines, including NF-κB, MPO and LPO, and improved liver apoptosis through suppressing protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, and that may be due to antibacterial activity as well antioxidant capacity of G. oblongata extract. CONCLUSION: The present study was cleared out the possibility of administration of G.oblongata red algae as a multi products source for biotechnological, medical, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications due to highly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities even although more investigations are required for separating, purifying and characterizing these bioactive compounds.

Water quality assessment and phosphorus budget of a lake (Mariut, Egypt) after diversion of wastewaters effluents.

The water quality of Lake Mariut has been deteriorated for about 5 decades due to continuous discharge of agricultural, municipal, and industrial wastes from Alexandria City and the adjacent land. During the past two decades, some steps were taken for rehabilitation of the lake through primary treatment of the discharged wastes and insulation of the polluted wastewater of QD from the water body in the main basin of the lake. Several parameters of water quality at the surface and near bottom were measured at twelve locations during winter (January) and summer (August) of 2013 and 2014. The present study revealed that the lake water appeared to be well aerated but still containing high concentrations of N and P and suffering hyper-eutrophic conditions. The water quality index (WQI) reflected medium condition in the lake and bad condition in the diverted drains. The P-budget calculation displayed that TP input into the LMMB from UDus and resuspension process from sediments exceeded the output by out flowing at UDds and settling.

Various In Vitro Bioactivities of Secondary Metabolites Isolated from the Sponge Hyrtios aff. Erectus from the Red Sea Coast of Egypt.

OBJECTIVES: The present study revealed the presence of bioactive constituents in Hyrtios aff. erectus sponge (HES) extract collected from the Red Sea using skin and scuba diving. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity was tested against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines as a prescreening test. RESULTS: The HES extract had high contents of total phenolic compounds (0.061 mg/g), flavonoids (0.2839 mg/g), and carotenoids (1.976 mg/g). Moreover, the HES extract showed high antioxidant capacity with 93.0% and 99% at 1 mg using 2.2'-Diphenyl-α-picrylhydrazyl and 2.2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), respectively. Cytotoxic activity against cancerous cell lines showed that the HES extract could inhibit cell growth effectively with IC50=47.5 µg/mL. Furthermore, anticancer activity using protein tyrosine kinase and sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitor screening assays resulted in 71.66% and 85.21% inhibition activity, respectively. The anti-inflammatory assays showed that the inhibition activity against cyclooxygenase (COX1), COX2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α was 71.82%, 81.13%, 80.89%, and 59.74%, respectively. At the same time, the anti-Alzheimer results using acetylcholine inhibition assay showed high activity at 1 mg with 83.51%. Additionally, the antiviral activity using the reverse transcriptase inhibition assay was 91.70%. CONCLUSION: This marine sponge isolated from the Red Sea showed tremendous activity against many diseases and it is considered an excellent source for bioactive pharmaceutical compounds.

Marine Algae of the Genus Gracilaria as Multi Products Source for Different Biotechnological and Medical Applications.

BACKGROUND: Gracilaria has been shown to be an important source of marine bioactive natural biomaterials and compounds. Although there are no enough patents used Gracilaria worldwide, the current study tries to put the Gracilaria on the spot for further important patents in the future. OBJECTIVE: The current study investigates the pharmaceuticals and biochemical activity of Gracilaria because no previous studies have been carried out to examine the biochemical and pharmaceutical activates of Gracilaria from the Suez Canal of Egypt as an excellent source for bioactive compounds. METHODS: Different advanced experimental models and analytical techniques, such as cytotoxicity, total antioxidant capacity, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory profiling were applied. The phytochemical analysis of different constituents was also carried out. RESULTS: The mineral analysis revealed the presence of copper (188.3 ppm) and iron (10.07 ppm) in addition to a remarkable wealth of selenium and sulfur contents giving up to 36% of its dry mass. The elemental analysis showed high contents of sulfur and nitrogen compounds. The GCMS profiling showed varieties of different bioactive compounds, such as fatty acids, different types of carotenoids in addition to pigments, alkaloids, steroids. Many other compounds, such as carbohydrates and amino acids having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities, etc. were identified. The cytotoxicity activity of Gracilaria marine extract was very effective against cancerous cell lines and showed high ability as a potent antitumor due to their bioactive constituents. Specialized screening assays using two anticancer experimental models, i.e., PTK and SKH1 revealed 77.88% and 84.50% inhibition anticancer activity; respectively. The anti-inflammatory activities investigated using four different experimental models, i.e., COX1, COX2, IL6, and TNF resulted in 68%, 81.76%, 56.02% and 78.43% inhibition; respectively. Moreover, Gracilaria extracts showed potent anti-Alzheimer with all concentrations. CONCLUSION: Gracilaria proved to be a multi-product source of marine natural products for different biotechnological applications. Our recommendation is to investigate the Gracilaria bioactive secondary metabolites in order to create and innovate in more patents from current important seaweeds (Gracilaria).

Pesudomance sp. Bacteria Associated with Marine Sponge as a Promising and Sustainable Source of Bioactive Molecules.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to identify the bacterial strain associated with marine sponge Hyrtiosaff. erectus collected from the Red Sea coastal water and to assess the utilization of their secondary metabolites for human benefit as antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, anti-viral, anticancer and anti-inflammatory agent. METHODS: After biochemical identification of Pesudomance sp. bacterial strain, the total polyphenol contents, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, anti-viral, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity of the Pesudomance sp. ethyl acetate extract were investigated by applying different biochemical assays. Polyphenol contents were investigated using spectrophotometric techniques. Antioxidant activity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and 2,2/-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) ABTS radical scavenging activity assays. The cytotoxic effects were investigated by using the human cancerous cell lines. RESULTS: The anti-Alzheimer, anti-viral, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities were determined using ELISA. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the Pesudomance sp. extract demonstrated the presence of a large and diverse group of substances such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, and tannins. The strong antioxidant activity of the Pesudomance sp. extract was mainly attributed to the protective role of polyphenols against reactive oxygen. It was also observed that Pesudomance sp. extract possessed significant anti-Alzheimer activity with 94% at 1 mg. The extract showed also high antiviral activity (90%) using reverse transcriptase enzymes inhibition assay. The examination of the anticancer activity by applying two experimental models, i.e., PTK and SHKI cleared out high significant percentages of 76.19 and 83.09 %; respectively. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory profiling using TNF, COX1, COX2, IL6 also revealed high antiinflammatory activity with different metabolic pathway of 62.70, 75.444, 79.27 and 54.15 %; respectively. The present study concluded that ethyl acetate extract of Pesudomance sp. possessed strong antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-viral, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Further studies are required to purify the bioactive compounds.

Phytochemical and pharmacological screening of Sargassium vulgare from Suez Canal, Egypt.

The current study investigates the phytochemical and pharmaceutical activities of Sargassium vulgare (SVE) collected from the Suez Canal. The prescreening using cytotoxicity was tested against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Furthermore the SVE inhibit cell growth effectively with IC50 = 20.8 µg/ml. The pharmacological studies revealed high antioxidant capacity at all examined concentrations. On the meantime, anticancer assay carried out using tyrosine kinase (PTK) and sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitor screening assays revealed inhibition with 75.73 and 80.01%; respectively. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory profiling revealed that the activities against COX1, COX2, IL6 and TNF were 77.39, 88.35, 75.38 and 71.24%; respectively. Additionally, the anti-Alzheimer results showed high activity at 1 mg with 76.33%. Finally the antiviral activities using reverse transcriptase inhibition assay give 92.24%. Consequently, it can be easily conclude that the SVE collected from the Suez Canal are excellent source of natural products for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications.

Protective role of antioxidants capacity of Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract against mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)-induced hepatic toxicity in mice liver: biomarkers and ultrastructural study.

The current study investigates the hepatoprotective effect of Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract against POPs intoxication on endogenous antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in mice liver tissue. In the present study, the mice BALB/C were assigned into four groups: group I: received saline subcutaneously for 7 days and served as negative control; group II: received subcutaneously for 7 days, 130.6 mg/100 g/b. w/day POPs mixture(mixture of PCB 28, PCB 52,, PCB 101, PCB 118, PCB 153, PCB 138 and PCB 180, alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-Hexachloro-cyclohexane, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, Aldrin, O,P'-DDE, Dieldrin, P,p DDE, O,P DDD, Endrin, P,p DDD and P,pDDT were extracted from sediments collected from Lake Mariout), and served as induced group; group III: pretreated with Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract for 7 days, as a protection dose and then treated with POPs as group II and served as protective group; and group IV: received i.p Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract of dose 0.7 mg/100 g b.wt/day for 7 days and served as positive control. After 7 days (experimental period), mice were scarified and the liver was harvested for biochemical estimation. Significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (p < 0.002) was noticed compared to POPs-protected group. The antioxidant biomarkers levels were significantly increase as the hepatic GSH and GST increased by 69.9 and 89.9%, respectively. Such increase was accompanied by a decrease in tyrosine kinase activity by 59.82%, additionally remarkable histopathological changes in liver tissue indicate the protective effect of Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract. The results of this study revealed that the Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract has the potential to diminish the destructive effect of POPs intoxication through enhancement of the endogenous antioxidant status. The hepatoprotective activity of Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract is mediated, by the antioxidant effect of its active constituents. The active constituents of Hyrtios aff. Erectus sponge extract were identified by LC-MS/MS.

Cross-linked graphene oxide sheets via modified extracted cellulose with high metal adsorption.

We have studied the extraction of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions from different types of aqueous solution by novel cross-linked graphene oxide sheets by modified extracted cellulose. The novel sorbent cellulose was extracted from the mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) and it was then grafted with acrylamide and immobilized by ethylenediamine for cross-linking process. The cross-linked graphene oxide sheets were identified by means of FT-IR, SEM and XRD. The adsorption studies of synthesized sorbent was optimized. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used for establish sorption equilibria. The cross-linked graphene oxide sheets showed maximum adsorption capacity 46.39 and 186.48mgg-1 for Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The potential applications of this sorbent was applied to remove Cu(II) and Pb(II) metal ions from hard water samples by using a multi-stage micro-column technique.

Removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from wastewater by using triethylenetetramine functionalized grafted cellulose acetate-manganese dioxide composite.

In this manuscript, we have studied the removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by using triethylenetetramine functionalized cellulose acetate grafted with the copolymer-manganese dioxide composite. The novel sorbent cellulose was extracted from the mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) and it was then acetylated and grafted with acrylamide. The sorbent composite was designed to interact simultaneously with higher metal loading by complexation-adsorption process. FT-IR, SEM, EDAX and TGA techniques were employed to characterize the cellulose modified composite. Sorption equilibria were established after 30min and their data were described by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The functionalized hybrid cellulose composite showed maximum adsorption capacity 82.06 and 196.84mgg(-1) for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The studied metal ions were successfully recovered from real wastewater samples of different matrices.

New cytotoxic constituents from the Red Sea soft coral Nephthea sp.

Nephthea are soft coral species rich in sesquiterpenoids and steroids. An organic extract of Nephthea sp. resulted in the isolation of a new steroid (1), as well as several previously reported metabolites (2-9). Structures were elucidated by employing NMR and HR-EI-MS analyses. The total extract, fractions and purified compounds exhibited differential cytotoxicity against the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line.

A new steroid from the Red Sea soft coral Lobophytum lobophytum.

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Lobophytum lobophytum collected from the Red Sea led to the isolation of a new compound gorgostan-5,25-dien-3ß-ol (1), and two known compounds gorgosterol (2), and alismol (3). Structures were elucidated by employing extensive NMR and HR-ESI-MS experiments.

Major ions anomalies and contamination status by trace metals in sediments from two hot spots along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt.

The major constituents and trace metals in the surface sediments collected from the Western Harbor and El-Mex Bay along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast were studied. The concentrations of major constituents decreased in the following order: Ca > Si > Mg > Na > K for the Western Harbor and El-Mex Bay. Additionally, the ranking order of trace metals was Fe > Al > Pb > Zn > Mn > Cu > Sn > V > As > Cd > Se for the Western Harbor. For El-Mex Bay, the decreasing order was Fe > Al > Mn > Sn > Pb > Zn > Cu > V > As > Cd > Se. Fe, Al, Zn, Pb, Cu, V, Cd and Sn in the Western Harbor occurred in higher concentrations than in El-Mex Bay. A higher concentration of Mn was observed in El-Mex Bay. Two pollution indicators, enrichment factor (EF) and metal pollution index (MPI), and several sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were used to evaluate the status of metal pollution. Based on the mean EF values of the studied metals, surface sediments of the Western Harbor and El-Mex Bay revealed that they are enriched with metals from anthropogenic sources. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed that the mean measurements for all metals across the Western Harbor and El-Mex Bay are significantly different at a 0.05 significance level. Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied in result interpretation. The spatial distribution of the different parameters was illustrated.