Macroalgae of Izmir Gulf: Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira compressa and Cystoseira crinita species have high α-glucosidase and Moderate Pancreatic Lipase Inhibition Activities.

Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia have been symptoms of many serious diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis overall the world. Thus, drug researchers have focused on new, natural and healthy drug alternatives. Marine macroalgae is a great source of hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic or hypocholesterolemic agents. In this study, we investigated that hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and cytotoxic potentials of 22 marine macroalgae from the Gulf of Izmir. According to our results, the cold methanol extract of Polysiphonia denudata exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (93.6%) compared to BHA (95.3%). Three Cystoseira species, Cystoseria crinita (91.9%), Cystoseria barbata (90.7%), Cystoseria compressa (89.8%) showed higher α-glucosidase inhibition rates than oral antidiabetic acarbose (79.5%). It has also been observed that same species are potent inhibitors of pancreatic lipase. Cytotoxicity test revealed that these extracts did not cause viability inhibition on MCF-7. The results of maltose- glucose assay indirectly displayed that Cystoseira cold methanolic extracts inhibited maltose consumption better than acarbose on HT29. The results of this screening study show that these Cystoseira species may provide non- toxic bioactive agents to control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.

Apoptosis-inducing activities of Halopteris scoparia L. Sauvageau (Brown algae) on cancer cells and its biosafety and antioxidant properties.

The aim of this study was to reveal the biological activities and in vivo toxicity profiles of n-hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of brown algae Halopteris scoparia L. Sauvageau. In this study, extracts were tested for their phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities. The cytotoxic activities of the extracts against cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), colon colorectal adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cells were assessed by MTT assay and total RNAs derived from cell lines to analyze gene expression were analyzed by Real Time Ready Human Apoptosis Panel 96. Also, in vivo toxicity and irritation effects of extracts were evaluated by LD50 acute toxicity test and Hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) assay, respectively. Our results showed that the phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined only in methanol extract (33.20 ± 1.41 mg GAE/g and 1.26 ± 0.95 mg QE/g). Also, n-hexane has a broader spectrum of content than methanol and chloroform extracts. Furthermore, n-hexane extract in DPPH and methanol extract in ABTS+ exhibited the best antioxidant activity. In addition, MTT results revealed that each three extracts cause a significant reduction in cell viability, especially in HeLa cells. When the apoptotic gene expressions were examined after treatment of extracts, the expression of many pro-apoptotic genes in both caspase-independent and caspase-dependent intrinsic and extrinsic pathways increased. These findings suggest that, considering that it had not led to irritation and toxicity in vivo, edible H. scoparia is a natural antioxidant and its apoptotic/cytotoxic activities can potentially be used against human cancers.

Macroalgae of Izmir Gulf: Dictyotaceae exhibit high in vitro anti-cancer activity independent from their antioxidant capabilities.

In this study, 24 marine macroalgae collected from the coastline of Izmir Gulf were examined for their antioxidant activities and their effects on cell proliferation. Crude extracts were obtained from samples with cold methanol extraction. Antioxidant activity was evaluated as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content (TPC); growth inhibitory effects of the extracts were determined by using WST-8. Amongst the species, Polysiphonia denuata (Rhodophyta) and Cystoseira species (Phaeophyceae) have been noticed by their high DPPH radical scavenging activities and TPCs. As expected, there was a strong correlation between these tests. Dictyota dichotoma (Phaeophyceae) showed the highest anti-cancer activity on MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 17.2 ng mL-1. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that D. dichotoma methanolic extract strongly induced apoptosis. This extract exhibited moderate viability inhibition on MCF10A cells (IC50: 49.3 ng mL-1), suggesting a potential use of the extracts or its compounds for cancer therapy. There was no correlation between anti-cancer potential and antioxidant content of the extracts.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities with acute toxicity, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff & Nizamuddin from the coast of Urla (Izmir, Turkey).

The aim of the study was to evaluate the biological activities with toxic properties of the methanol, hexane, and chloroform extracts of Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff & Nizamuddin from the Coast of Urla in the Aegean Sea. The extracts of C. compressa were tested for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in this study. Cytotoxic and mutagenic potentials of the extracts were also evaluated using cell culture and mutagenicity assays. Hexane extract was found to have higher total flavonoid and phenolic contents than the other extracts and exerted higher antioxidant activity than other extracts. All extracts exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms (minimum inhibitory concentration ranges are 32-256 µg/mL). The results indicated that the extracts had no significant cytotoxic activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep 3B cell line in all treated concentrations (5-50 µg/mL) and did not show mutagenicity in the Ames test. Lethality was not observed among mice treated with oral doses of the extracts. In conclusion, results of investigations indicate that brown alga C. compressa is a natural source of antioxidant. It has moderate antimicrobial activities with no toxicity.

The effect of UV-A (352 nm) stress on chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll a content, thickness of upper cortex and determinate DNA damage in Physcia semipinnata.

In the present study, Physcia semipinnata samples were exposed to UV-A (352 nm) in 20 J m(-2) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h to seek the alterations in the PSII photosynthetic quantum yield, thallus anatomy and DNA mutation rate in response to radiation. The Fv/Fm ratio decreased in P. semipinnata following exposure to UV-A for 24h, 48 h and 72 h. The data of the present study reported that Chla degradation occurred by exposition of UV-A for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Photobiont size and thickness of upper cortex layer also showed a gradually decrease in P. semipinnata thallus sections during 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. The thickness of the upper cortex layer, exposed to UV-A for 72 h, of P. semipinnata thallus reduced 64%, compared with control. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to detect DNA damage. The main changes observed in the RAPD profiles resulted in both appearance and disappearance of different bands and variation of their intensity. According to RAPD assay, the genetic distance between the control group and 24h , 48 h and 72 h UV-A exposed, groups was found 56%, 78% and 84%, respectively.

The role of external polyamines on photosynthetic responses, lipid peroxidation, protein and chlorophyll a content under the UV-A (352nm) stress in Physcia semipinnata.

Physcia semipinnata was exposed to UV-A (352nm) and visible light (210, 800 and 2000mW/cm2) for 30min, 1, 2, 24, and 48h to seek the alterations in the PSII photosynthetic quantum yield, in response to radiation. Chlorophyll a fluorescence did not influence exposure to light, 210, 800 and 2000mW/cm2. Significant alterations of the photosynthetic quantum yield ratio occurred in response to increase in UV-A exposure time. The photosynthetic quantum yield ratio decreased in P. semipinnata following exposure to UV-A for 24 and 48h. The thalli of P. semipinnata treated with 1mM polyamine were not influenced during the exposure to UV-A for 24 and 48h. It was also found that exogenously spd added samples had higher chla content than spm and put added samples. In this study, we showed that lipid peroxidation levels between UV-A-treated samples and exogenously polyamine treated samples that were previously exposed to UV-A for 24 and 48h were significantly decreased. This result is the first record to indicate that external polyamines might have some protective role on photosystem II and membrane against UV-A stress.

Antimicrobial activity of volatile components and various extracts of the red alga Jania rubens.

The methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, chloroform and volatile oil extracts of the red alga Jania rubens were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity (five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans ATCC 10239). GC-MS analysis of the volatile components of J. rubens identified 40 compounds which constituted 77.53% of the total. The volatile components of J. rubens consisted of n-docosane (6.35%), n-eicosane (5.77%) and n-tetratriacontane (5.58%) as major components. The methanol and chloroform extracts (4 mg/disc) showed more potent antimicrobial activity than the hexane and dichloromethane extracts and the volatile oil of J. rubens.

Removal of Cr6+ from aqueous solution by some algae.

Biosorption of Cr6+ from aqueous solution on dried (Halimeda tuna, Sargassum vulgare, Pterocladia capillacea, Hypnea musciformis, Laurencia papillosa) algae were studied with variation in the parameters of pH, initial metal ion concentration and agitation time. From the batch system studies the working sorption pH value was determined as 1.0 for Halimeda tuna and Sargassum vulgare, 2.0 for Pterocladia capillacea and Hypnea musciformis, 3.0 for Laurencia papillosa. The total adsorbed quantities, equilibrium uptakes and total removal percents of Cr6+ were determined by evaluating the breakthrough curves obtained at different inlet Cr6+ concentration for each sorbent. The maximum chromium biosorption occured at 120 min for Halimeda tuna, 180 min for Sargassum vulgare, Hypnea musciformis and Pterocladia capillacea, 60 min for Laurencia papillosa. The suitability of the Freundlich and Langmiur adsorption models were also investigated for each chromium-sorbent system. The results showed that Sargassum vulgare was found suitable for removing chromium from aqueous solution. The maximum sorption capacities of Halimeda tuna, Sargassum vulgare, Pterocladia capillacea, Hypnea musciformis, Laurencia papillosa were determined as 2.3, 33.0, 6.6, 4.7 and 5.3 mgg(-1).