ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several studies have been reported previously on the bioactivities of different extracts of marine molluscs. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of S. pharaonis ink as a highly populated species in the Red Sea. We extracted the flavonoids from the ink and analyzed their composition. Then we evaluated systematically the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of this extract. A pharmacokinetic study was also conducted using SwissADME to assess the potential of the identified flavonoids and phenolic compounds from the ink extract to be orally active drug candidates. RESULTS: Cytotoxic activity was evaluated against 5 cell lines (MCF7, Hep G2, A549, and Caco2) at different concentrations (0.4 µg/mL, 1.6 µg/mL, 6.3 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL). The viability of examined cells was reduced by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest cytotoxic effect of the extract was recorded against A549 and Hep G2 cancer cell lines cells with IC50 = 2.873 and 7.1 µg/mL respectively. The mechanistic analysis by flow cytometry of this extract on cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction indicated that the extract arrests the cell cycle at the S phase in Hep G2 and MCF7, while in A549 cell arrest was recorded at G1 phase. However, it causes G1 and S phase arrest in Caco2 cancer cell line. Our data showed that the extract has significant antimicrobial activity against all tested human microbial pathogens. However, the best inhibitory effect was observed against Candida albicans ATCC 10,221 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.95 µg/mL. Pharmacokinetic analysis using SwissADME showed that most flavonoids and phenolics compounds have high drug similarity as they satisfy Lipinski's criteria and have WLOGP values below 5.88 and TPSA below 131.6 Å2. CONCLUSION: S. pharaonis ink ethanolic extract showed a promising cytotoxic potency against various cell lines and a remarkable antimicrobial action against different pathogenic microbial strains. S. pharaonis ink is a novel source of important flavonoids that could be used in the future in different applications as a naturally safe and feasible alternative of synthetic drugs.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents , Flavonoids , Phenols , Humans , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Phenols/chemistry , Phenols/pharmacology , Animals , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Sepia/chemistry , Cell Line, Tumor , Caco-2 Cells , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Cell Survival/drug effects , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , MCF-7 Cells , Hep G2 Cells , Apoptosis/drug effects , Candida albicans/drug effectsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Melanin is considered the main chromophore for laser hair removal. Due to a lack of laser-absorbing chromophores, removing non-pigmented hair with laser is quite problematic with unsatisfactory outcomes. This problem could be solved by delivering more melanin to the area around the hair follicle and enhancing that area as a target for light absorption. The insolubility of Sepia melanin as an exogenous dye, in most solvents, limits its bioavailability and thus its clinical use. METHODS: In our study, to overcome the solubility problems and increase the bioavailability of melanin for biomedical and cosmetic applications, natural sepia melanin was loaded in different nano-delivery systems (spanlastics and transfersomes) to be delivered to the hair follicles. The different formulations of melanin were prepared and characterized. In vivo skin deposition and histopathological studies were conducted on albino mice. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the spherical shape of the prepared vesicles with an average particle size of 252 and 262 nm and zeta potential of -22.5 and -35 mV for melanin spanlastics and melanin transfersomes, respectively. Histopathological examination of hair follicles and pilosebaceous glands for the irradiated and non-irradiated albino mice skin was studied post the application of the prepared formulations topically and subcutaneously. Qualitative statistical analysis was conducted and melanin transfersomes and melanin spanlastics showed significant damage to pilosebaceous glands and hair follicles with a p-value of 0.031 and 0.009 respectively. CONCLUSION: Melanin nanovesicles as transfersomes and spanlastics could be considered a promising approach for the removal of non-pigmented hair.
Subject(s)
Hair Follicle , Hair Removal , Melanins , Nanoparticles , Sepia , Animals , Melanins/metabolism , Hair Removal/methods , Mice , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Hair Follicle/metabolism , Sepia/chemistry , Lasers , Particle Size , Skin/metabolism , Biological AvailabilityABSTRACT
Osteosarcoma conventional chemotherapeutics are known for their side effects, limited options, and induction of drug resistance. This creates the need to develop new therapeutics capable of effectively destroying cancer cells with low toxicity, improving patient survival rate and their life quality. This work reports a novel drug delivery nanoplataform made of Natural Melanin Nanoparticles (MNPs), obtained from Sepia officinalis ink, with 99% incorporation efficiency of doxorubicin (Dox) without the use of non-toxic solvents. A significant photothermal effect was shown by a 36ºC increment after 10â¯min of laser irradiation, surpassing reported values for synthetic melanin. A sustained drug release of ca. 23% with photothermal stimuli was observed, compared to 15% without stimuli, after 48â¯h. This nanoplatform is obtained as a food industry side product, which makes it a natural cost-effective biomedical material. Natural MPs were applied in an osteosarcoma cell line (SaOs-2), and internalized by the cells in less than 2â¯h, showing cytocompatibility up to 1000⯵g/mL after 72â¯h of contact with cells. On the contrary, when natural MNPs loaded with Dox (Dox-MNPs) were placed in contact with the SaOs-2 cells and were simultaneously receiving NIR light it was observed a 93% reduction in cancer cells in 48â¯h, revealing a synergistic effect between chemotherapy and phototherapy. To our knowledge this is the first time that natural MNPs extracted from Sepia officinalis were tested on an osteosarcoma cell line as chemo-photothermal agent, showing these NPs are an effective, cost-effective, reproducible, non-toxic nanoplatform for osteosarcoma treatment using combined effects.
Subject(s)
Cell Survival , Doxorubicin , Melanins , Nanoparticles , Osteosarcoma , Sepia , Humans , Osteosarcoma/drug therapy , Osteosarcoma/pathology , Doxorubicin/pharmacology , Doxorubicin/chemistry , Melanins/metabolism , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Sepia/chemistry , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Drug Liberation , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/chemistry , Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy , Bone Neoplasms/pathology , Particle Size , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Drug Screening Assays, AntitumorABSTRACT
The bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg) in marine organisms through various pathways has not yet been fully explored, particularly in cephalopods. This study utilises radiotracer techniques using the isotope 203Hg to investigate the toxicokinetics and the organotropism of waterborne inorganic Hg (iHg) and dietary inorganic and organic Hg (methylHg, MeHg) in juvenile common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. The effect of two contrasting CO2 partial pressures in seawater (400 and 1600 µatm, equivalent to pH 8.08 and 7.54, respectively) and two types of prey (fish and shrimp) were tested as potential driving factors of Hg bioaccumulation. After 14 days of waterborne exposure, juvenile cuttlefish showed a stable concentration factor of 709 ± 54 and 893 ± 117 at pH 8.08 and 7.54, respectively. The accumulated dissolved i203Hg was depurated relatively rapidly with a radiotracer biological half-life (Tb1/2) of 44 ± 12 and 55 ± 16 days at pH 8.08 and 7.54, respectively. During the whole exposure period, approximately half of the i203Hg was found in the gills, but i203Hg also increased in the digestive gland. When fed with 203Hg-radiolabelled prey, cuttlefish assimilated almost all the Hg provided (>95%) independently of the prey type. Nevertheless, the prey type played a major role on the depuration kinetics with Hg Tb1/2 approaching infinity in fish fed cuttlefish vs. 25 days in shrimp fed cuttlefish. Such a difference is explained by the different proportion of Hg species in the prey, with fish prey containing more than 80% of MeHg vs. only 30% in shrimp. Four days after ingestion of radiolabelled food, iHg was primarily found in the digestive organs while MeHg was transferred towards the muscular tissues. No significant effect of pH/pCO2 variation was observed during both the waterborne and dietary exposures on the bioaccumulation kinetics and tissue distribution of i203Hg and Me203Hg. Dietary exposure is the predominant pathway of Hg bioaccumulation in juvenile cuttlefish.
Subject(s)
Mercury , Methylmercury Compounds , Sepia , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Animals , Bioaccumulation , Carbon Dioxide , Decapodiformes/metabolism , Fishes/metabolism , Food Chain , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Mercury/analysis , Methylmercury Compounds/analysis , Oceans and Seas , Seawater , Sepia/chemistry , Sepia/metabolism , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysisABSTRACT
Melanins (from the Greek µÎλας, mélas, black) are bio-pigments ubiquitous in flora and fauna. Eumelanin is an insoluble brown-black type of melanin, found in vertebrates and invertebrates alike, among which Sepia (cuttlefish) is noteworthy. Sepia melanin is a type of bio-sourced eumelanin that can readily be extracted from the ink sac of cuttlefish. Eumelanin features broadband optical absorption, metal-binding affinity and antioxidative and radical-scavenging properties. It is a prototype of benign material for sustainable organic electronics technologies. Here, we report on an electronic conductivity as high as 10-3 S cm-1 in flexographically printed Sepia melanin films; such values for the conductivity are typical for well-established high-performance organic electronic polymers but quite uncommon for bio-sourced organic materials. Our studies show the potential of bio-sourced materials for emerging electronic technologies with low human- and eco-toxicity.
Subject(s)
Electronics , Melanins , Sepia , Animals , Electronics/instrumentation , Humans , Ink , Melanins/chemistry , Pigmentation , Sepia/chemistryABSTRACT
Four fractions of water-extracted Sepia esculenta ink polysaccharides (SIP) were separated by dicthylaminoethy (DEAE) cellulose chromatography. The eluted fraction with the highest yield was characterized as a sulfate-rich glycosaminoglycan named SIP-IV. According to the analysis of laser scattering and refractive index signals, SIP-IV was determined to be 14.4 kDa and spherical molecular conformation in salt solution. SIP-IV is composed of fucose, galactosamine, glucosamine, mannose and glucuronic acid with a molar ratio of 5.1:7.3:3.8:1:4.4, which is obviously different from reported SIPs. SIP-IV promoted yeast proliferation and intercellular antioxidant level. Based on multi-omics strategy, data of transcriptome analysis suggested that growth promotion of SIP-IV on Saccharomyces cerevisiae might be attributed to regulation of Rho protein signal transduction, nuclear autophagy and nitrogen utilization. Combined with the metabolome results, SIP-IV also re-profiled metabolism of amino acids and phospholipids in yeast cells.
Subject(s)
Glycosaminoglycans/pharmacology , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/drug effects , Sepia/chemistry , Sulfates/chemistry , Animals , Antioxidants/metabolism , Autophagy/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Glycosaminoglycans/chemistry , Ink , Metabolome , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Weight , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Signal Transduction/drug effects , TranscriptomeABSTRACT
The present work aimed to synthesis of chitin, chitosan and sulfation of chitosan from cuttlebone of cuttlefish Sepia kobiensis. Principally chitin was extracted through sequential processes of demineralisation and deproteinzation. Then chitosan was synthesized by a deacetylation and finally sulfated at semi-heterogeneous condition using chlorosulfonic acid in N,N-dimethylformamide. The synthesized macromolecules were characterized for its structural, physical and thermal (CHN, DDA, FT-IR, NMR, XRD, Viscometric analysis, SEM and DSC) properties. Apart from anticoagulant potential of the sulfated chitosan was tested using human plasma by means of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT). Further sulfated chitosan was tested for antibacterial potential by well diffusion method against eleven human pathogenic clinical isolates of both Gram positive and Gram-negative strains and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) was calculated accordingly. The results of this study revealed the effectiveness of the sulfated chitosan at semi-heterogeneous conditions as a potent antibacterial and anticoagulant molecule.
Subject(s)
Chitosan , Sepia , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anticoagulants/chemistry , Anticoagulants/pharmacology , Chitin/chemistry , Chitosan/chemistry , Chitosan/pharmacology , Humans , Sepia/chemistry , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared , SulfatesABSTRACT
Cuttlefish, a unique group of marine mollusks, produces an internal biomineralized shell, known as cuttlebone, which is an ultra-lightweight cellular structure (porosity, â¼93 vol%) used as the animal's hard buoyancy tank. Although cuttlebone is primarily composed of a brittle mineral, aragonite, the structure is highly damage tolerant and can withstand water pressure of about 20 atmospheres (atm) for the species Sepia officinalis Currently, our knowledge on the structural origins for cuttlebone's remarkable mechanical performance is limited. Combining quantitative three-dimensional (3D) structural characterization, four-dimensional (4D) mechanical analysis, digital image correlation, and parametric simulations, here we reveal that the characteristic chambered "wall-septa" microstructure of cuttlebone, drastically distinct from other natural or engineering cellular solids, allows for simultaneous high specific stiffness (8.4 MNâ m/kg) and energy absorption (4.4 kJ/kg) upon loading. We demonstrate that the vertical walls in the chambered cuttlebone microstructure have evolved an optimal waviness gradient, which leads to compression-dominant deformation and asymmetric wall fracture, accomplishing both high stiffness and high energy absorption. Moreover, the distribution of walls is found to reduce stress concentrations within the horizontal septa, facilitating a larger chamber crushing stress and a more significant densification. The design strategies revealed here can provide important lessons for the development of low-density, stiff, and damage-tolerant cellular ceramics.
Subject(s)
Biomimetic Materials/chemistry , Bone and Bones/chemistry , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Biomechanical Phenomena , Ceramics/chemistry , Equipment Design , Hardness , PorosityABSTRACT
Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model to explore the preventive effect of two marine polysaccharides separately derived from Sepia esculenta ink (SIP) and Laminaria japonica (FL) as well as one terrestrial polysaccharides from Eleocharis tuberosa peel (WCPP) on toxic injury induced by acrylamide (AA). The growth of yeast was evaluated by kinetics indexes including doubling time, lag phase and maximum proliferation density. Meanwhile, intracellular redox state was determined by contents of MDA and GSH, and SOD activity. The results showed that AA inhibited yeast growth and destroyed the antioxidant defense system. Supplement with polysaccharides, the oxidative damage of cells was alleviated. According to the growth recovery of yeast, FL and WCPP had similar degree of capacity against AA associated cytotoxicity, while SIP was 1.5~2 folds as strong as FL and WCPP. SIP and FL significantly reduced production of MDA by AA administration. Moreover, SIP, FL and WCPP increased SOD activity and repressed GSH depletion caused by AA.
Subject(s)
Acrylamide/toxicity , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Eleocharis/chemistry , Laminaria/chemistry , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Polysaccharides/pharmacology , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/drug effects , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Glutathione/metabolism , Ink , Kinetics , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Malondialdehyde/metabolism , Oxidation-Reduction , Polysaccharides/isolation & purification , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/growth & development , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolismABSTRACT
Cephalopods are radically different from any other invertebrate. Their molluscan heritage, innovative nervous system, and specialized behaviors create a unique blend of characteristics that are sometimes reminiscent of vertebrate features. For example, despite differences in the organization and development of their nervous systems, both vertebrates and cephalopods use many of the same neurotransmitters. One neurotransmitter, histamine (HA), has been well studied in both vertebrates and invertebrates, including molluscs. While HA was previously suggested to be present in the cephalopod central nervous system (CNS), Scaros, Croll, and Baratte only recently described the localization of HA in the olfactory system of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. Here, we describe the location of HA using an anti-HA antibody and a probe for histidine decarboxylase (HDC), a synthetic enzyme for HA. We extended previous descriptions of HA in the olfactory organ, nerve, and lobe, and describe HDC staining in the same regions. We found HDC-positive cell populations throughout the CNS, including the optic gland and the peduncle, optic, dorso-lateral, basal, subvertical, frontal, magnocellular, and buccal lobes. The distribution of HA in the olfactory system of S. officinalis is similar to the presence of HA in the chemosensory organs of gastropods but is different than the sensory systems in vertebrates or arthropods. However, HA's widespread abundance throughout the rest of the CNS of Sepia is a similarity shared with gastropods, vertebrates, and arthropods. Its widespread use with differing functions across Animalia provokes questions regarding the evolutionary history and adaptability of HA as a transmitter.
Subject(s)
Brain Chemistry , Brain , Histamine/analysis , Histidine Decarboxylase/analysis , Olfactory Pathways/chemistry , Sepia , Animals , Sepia/chemistryABSTRACT
To investigate the effect of carboxymethylation and phosphorylation modification on Sepia esculenta ink polysaccharide (SIP) properties, this study prepared carboxymethyl SIP (CSIP) with the chloracetic acid method, and phosphorylated SIP (PSIP) with the sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP)/sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) method, on the basis of an orthogonal experiment. The in vitro antioxidant and anticoagulant activities of the derivatives were determined by assessing the scavenging capacity of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals, which activated the partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). The results showed that SIP was modified successfully to be CSIP and PSIP, and degrees of substitution (DSs) of the two products were 0.9913 and 0.0828, respectively. Phosphorylation efficiently improved the antioxidant property of SIP, and the IC50 values of PSIP on DPPH and hydroxyl radicals decreased by 63.25% and 13.77%, respectively. But carboxymethylation reduced antioxidant activity of the native polysaccharide, IC50 values of CSIP on the DPPH and hydroxyl radicals increased by 16.74% and 6.89%, respectively. SIP significantly prolonged the APTT, PT, and TT in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that SIP played an anticoagulant action through intrinsic, extrinsic, and common coagulation pathways. CSIP and PSIP both possessed a stronger anticoagulant capacity than SIP via the same pathways; moreover, CSIP was observed to be more effective in prolonging APTT and PT than PSIP.
Subject(s)
Methylation , Phosphorylation , Polysaccharides/chemistry , Polysaccharides/metabolism , Animals , Anticoagulants/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Male , Mice , Phosphorylation/physiology , Sepia/chemistryABSTRACT
In order to investigate prevention of squid ink polysaccharide (SIP) against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced ovarian failure and immunosuppression in mice, female Kunming mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of CP (120â¯mg/kg) and oral administration of SIP (50, 65, 80 and 110â¯mg/kg, continuous 14â¯days). At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed to collect sera, spleens, thymuses and ovaries for determining relative masses of organs, serum hormonal levels, contents of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in ovary and serum, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) content in ovary, contents of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway-related proteins in ovary, and peripheral blood populations of CD4+, CD8+ and natural killer (NK) cells. Results showed that CP induced immunosuppression in mice which was demonstrated by decreased relative masses of spleen and thymus, contents of IL-2 and TNF-α, ratio of CD4+ / CD8+, and increased population of NK cells. But the suppressive action was disinhibited by SIP. Meanwhile, CP treatment caused dysfunction of ovaries in mice that could be concluded by decreased relative mass of ovary, disruption of redox equilibrium, and modified contents of Nrf2 signaling pathway-related proteins. However, SIP exposure rescued the negative effect CP mediated in ovaries of mice. These data can be concluded that SIP protects mice from CP inducing immunosuppression and ovarian failure via Nrf2/ARE (antioxidant response element) signaling pathway.
Subject(s)
Cyclophosphamide/adverse effects , Immunosuppression Therapy , Ink , Ovary/pathology , Polysaccharides/pharmacology , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Female , Hormones/blood , Interleukin-2/blood , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Mice , Organ Size/drug effects , Ovary/drug effects , Oxidation-Reduction , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Spleen/drug effects , Spleen/pathology , Thymus Gland/drug effects , Thymus Gland/pathology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/bloodABSTRACT
Sepiae Endoconcha is a common marine animal medicine,which generally contains high concentration of arsenic( As).The Chinese Pharmacopoeia( 2010 edition,part I) stipulated that the total As content of Sepiae Endoconcha should not exceed 2 mg·kg~(-1),while this limit was revised to 10 mg·kg~(-1) in the 2015 edition. So far,there is no research on the speciation of As in Sepiae Endoconcha,which made it hard to accurately evaluate its security risk. In this study,32 batches of Sepiae Endoconcha from different sources were collected. The safety risk assessment was carried out by determining the total As content and As speciation,inorganic As[As( â ¢),As( â ¤) ]and organic As( MMA,DMA,As C,As B) by HPLC-ICP-MS,and then the limit standard was discussed. The results showed that As B was the main form of As in Sepiae Endoconcha,followed by DMA and As( â ¤) ï¼ Of the 32 batches of Sepiae Endoconcha,9 batches( accounting for 28%) were detected possessing i As. The maximum concentration of As( â ¢) was 103. 3 µg·kg~(-1),and the maximum concentration of As( â ¤) was 222. 4 µg·kg~(-1). According to the limit of i As in food,18. 75% of the samples exceeded the standard. The results indicate that there is no simple positive correlation between total As and As morphology in Sepiae Endoconcha. Besides,there is a risk in the total As limit,especially after the relaxation of the total As limit. The problem of high i As content caused by pollution and other factors is difficult to regulate. Since the toxicity of inorganic As is much higher than that of organic As,it is of great practical significance to establish inorganic As form limits in Sepiae Endoconcha.
Subject(s)
Arsenic/analysis , Arsenicals/analysis , Drug Contamination , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Environmental Pollution , Mass Spectrometry , Medicine, Chinese TraditionalABSTRACT
Sepiae Endoconcha is a common marine animal medicine,which generally contains high concentration of arsenic( As).The Chinese Pharmacopoeia( 2010 edition,part I) stipulated that the total As content of Sepiae Endoconcha should not exceed 2 mg·kg~(-1),while this limit was revised to 10 mg·kg~(-1) in the 2015 edition. So far,there is no research on the speciation of As in Sepiae Endoconcha,which made it hard to accurately evaluate its security risk. In this study,32 batches of Sepiae Endoconcha from different sources were collected. The safety risk assessment was carried out by determining the total As content and As speciation,inorganic As[As( Ⅲ),As( Ⅴ) ]and organic As( MMA,DMA,As C,As B) by HPLC-ICP-MS,and then the limit standard was discussed. The results showed that As B was the main form of As in Sepiae Endoconcha,followed by DMA and As( Ⅴ) . Of the 32 batches of Sepiae Endoconcha,9 batches( accounting for 28%) were detected possessing i As. The maximum concentration of As( Ⅲ) was 103. 3 μg·kg~(-1),and the maximum concentration of As( Ⅴ) was 222. 4 μg·kg~(-1). According to the limit of i As in food,18. 75% of the samples exceeded the standard. The results indicate that there is no simple positive correlation between total As and As morphology in Sepiae Endoconcha. Besides,there is a risk in the total As limit,especially after the relaxation of the total As limit. The problem of high i As content caused by pollution and other factors is difficult to regulate. Since the toxicity of inorganic As is much higher than that of organic As,it is of great practical significance to establish inorganic As form limits in Sepiae Endoconcha.
Subject(s)
Animals , Arsenic/analysis , Arsenicals/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Drug Contamination , Environmental Pollution , Mass Spectrometry , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Sepia/chemistryABSTRACT
Sepia ink polysaccharide (SIP) isolated from squid and cuttlefish ink is a kind of acid mucopolysaccharide that has been identified in three types of primary structures from squid (Illex argentinus and Ommastrephes bartrami), cuttlefish Sepiella maindroni, and cuttlefish Sepia esculenta ink. Although SIP has been proved to be multifaceted, most of the reported evidence has illuminated its chemopreventive and antineoplastic activities. As a natural product playing a role in cancer treatment, SIP may be used as chemotherapeutic ancillary agent or functional food. Based on the current findings on SIP, we have summarized four topics in this review, including: chemopreventive, antineoplastic, chemosensitive, and procoagulant and anticoagulant activities, which are correlative closely with the actions of anticancer agents on cancer patients, such as anticancer, toxicity and thrombogenesis, with the latter two actions being common causes of death in cancer cases exposed to chemotherapeutic agents.
Subject(s)
Ink , Polysaccharides/chemistry , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Chemotherapy, AdjuvantABSTRACT
Toxins from the posterior salivary gland (PSG) of cuttlefishes are known toxins with pronounced toxicity. In the present study, ionic peptide rich PSG toxin from the cuttlefish S. pharaonis was isolated by ion exchange chromatography and purified by Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), with active fraction at a retention time of 26min. The net protein content of the PSG toxin was estimated to be 46.6mg at a proximate molecular weight ofâ¼50kDa. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) of PSG toxin revealed the presence of alcoholic OH, primary NH, alkyl CH and conjugated CONH functional groups. Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and K2D analysis of the PSG toxin confirmed the presence of secondary structure with 36.77% α-helix,12.31% ß sheet and 50.92% random coil. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the PSG toxin eluted amberlite IRA 900 Cl- resin showed surface abrasion and corrosive blebbing. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDX) analysis of PSG toxin treated resin revealed increase in nitrogen and sulphur content corresponding to amino acid composition. Teratogenicity of PSG toxin against Zebrafish embryo demonstrated developmental malformations and premature hatching at a maximum tolerated dose of 1.25µM. The PSG toxin (50µM) exhibited commendable inhibitory activity with pronounced zone of inhibition against gram E. coli (10mm) and K. pneumonia (10mm). The results strongly demonstrate the toxicity of the ionic peptide rich PSG toxin from S. pharaonis and its exploitation for its promise as a potential antibacterial agent of the future.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Marine Toxins/pharmacology , Marine Toxins/toxicity , Sepia/chemistry , Teratogens/toxicity , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Bacteria/drug effects , Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects , Embryo, Nonmammalian/pathology , Marine Toxins/chemistry , Marine Toxins/isolation & purification , Teratogens/chemistry , ZebrafishABSTRACT
Oxidative stress mediates the cell damage in several neurodegenerative diseases, some of which are Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we investigated whether the taurine-rich cuttlefish extract could exert a protective effect on damaged human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Our results revealed that pre-treatment with cuttlefish extract effectively increased the cell viability by protecting the cells from intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by H2O2 exposure. Furthermore, apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax were investigated by western-blot analysis and results indicated that cuttlefish extract promoted the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein while inhibiting the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein. Therefore, cuttlefish extract containing the ability of scavenging excessive ROS, the capacity of anti-oxidative stress, could be employed in neurodegenerative disease prevention. In conclusion, the results suggest that cuttlefish extract could be used as a potential candidate for preventing several human neurodegenerative and other disorders caused by oxidative stress.
Subject(s)
Neurons/drug effects , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Sepia/chemistry , Taurine/pharmacology , Animals , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Complex Mixtures/pharmacology , Humans , Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity , Oxidative Stress/drug effectsABSTRACT
Novel prostate cancer therapeutics are in high demand. In order to identify potential therapeutic targets, protein from sepia ink was hydrolyzed by utilizing pepsin in an orthogonal array design. Pepsin hydrolysate (SH) obtained at optimal conditions exhibited the highest antitumor activity. Subsequently, a novel antitumor peptide, which was termed SHP, was isolated through ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography and reversed phase highperformance liquid chromatography. The amino acid sequence of SHP was identified as LeuLysGluGluAsnArgArgArgArgAsp with a molecular mass of 1371.53 Da. The results of the proliferation assay revealed that SHP significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC3 cells in a time and dosedependent manner. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining indicated significant SHPinduced apoptosis. Furthermore, Annexin V/PI doublestaining assays revealed that the percentage of early stage apoptotic cells increased from 8.85 to 29% following PC3 exposure to 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml SHP for 24 h. SHPinduced apoptosis was accompanied by the activation of cellular tumor antigen p53 and caspase3, the upregulation of apoptosis regulator BAX, and the downregulation of apoptosis regulator Bcl2. These findings suggest that SHP is a novel inducer of apoptosis in vitro and merits further investigation as a possible therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/drug effects , Ink , Peptides/isolation & purification , Peptides/pharmacology , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Shape/drug effects , Chemical Fractionation , Chromatography, Gel , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Hydrolysis , Male , Pepsin A/metabolism , Staining and LabelingABSTRACT
The huge development of bioengineering during the last years has boosted the search for new bioinspired materials, with tunable chemical, mechanical, and optoelectronic properties for the design of semiconductors, batteries, biosensors, imaging and therapy probes, adhesive hydrogels, tissue restoration, photoprotectors, etc. These new materials should complement or replace metallic or organic polymers that cause cytotoxicity and some adverse health effects. One of the most interesting biomaterials is melanin and synthetic melanin-related molecules. Melanin has a controversial molecular structure, dependent on the conditions of polymerization, and therefore tunable. It is found in animal hair and skin, although one of the common sources is cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) ink. On the other hand, mussels synthesize adhesive proteins to anchor these marine animals to wet surfaces. Both melanin and mussel foot proteins contain a high number of catecholic residues, and their properties are related to these groups. Dopamine (DA) can easily polymerize to get polydopamine melanin (PDAM), that somehow shares properties with melanin and mussel proteins. Furthermore, PDAM can easily be conjugated with other components. This review accounts for the main aspects of melanin, as well as DA-based melanin-like materials, related to their biomedical and biotechnological applications.
Subject(s)
Biomedical Technology , Biomimetics , Biotechnology , Bivalvia/chemistry , Melanins/metabolism , Polymers/metabolism , Sepia/chemistry , Animals , Melanins/chemistryABSTRACT
Arsenic and Cadmium concentrations in Todarodes pacificus (4 males and 4 females), Sepia longipes (1 male and 3 unknown), five Sepia madokai caught in 2012 (1 male and 4 females) and five S. madokai caught in 2014 (5 females) were collected from the East China Sea (ECS) during intervals from 2010 Oct. through to 2014 Oct. The internal organs were vacuum dried and the elements were measured by ICP-MS. Among the toxic elements, As, Cd, and Hg in the digestive gland, gonads and branchial hearts of squids and cuttlefishes were measured separately. The squid T. pacificus practically inhabits offshore, whereas cuttlefishes, such as S. longipes and S. madokai, inhabit bottom coastal waters in the ECS. Cd concentration in digestive gland of T. pacificus and S. madokai is higher than similar species from other regions. This high concentration seems to be derived from anthropogenic activities and geological conditions present in the ECS. The squid and cuttlefish also accumulate high amounts of As, not only in their digestive gland but also in other organs. Arsenic could be derived from high volcanic activities. In the case of Hg, the muscles were reported to contain the highest concentration in the species studied, but unlike concentration of Cd in digestive gland, it was high compared to other studies. These elements can be utilized as indicators for environmental pollution in marine systems. For monitoring of harmful elements in squids and cuttlefish, for example Cd and As in the digestive gland and Hg in mantle should be measured.