Recent advances in industrial applications of seaweeds.

Seaweeds have been generally utilized as food and alternative medicine in different countries. They are specifically used as a raw material for wine, cheese, soup, tea, noodles, etc. In addition, seaweeds are potentially good resources of protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber. The quality and quantity of biologically active compounds in seaweeds depend on season and harvesting period, seaweed geolocation as well as ecological factors. Seaweeds or their extracts have been studied as innovative sources for a variety of bioactive compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, carrageenan, fucoidan, etc. These secondary metabolites have been shown to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-obesity and anti-tumour properties. They have been used in pharmaceutical/medicine, and food industries since bioactive compounds from seaweeds are regarded as safe and natural. Therefore, this article provides up-to-date information on the applications of seaweed in different industries such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetics, dermatology and agriculture. Further studies on innovative extraction methods, safety issue and health-promoting properties should be reconsidered. Moreover, the details of the molecular mechanisms of seaweeds and their bioactive compounds for physiological activities are to be clearly elucidated.

Synthesis and characterization of thermo/pH-sensitive pectin-graft-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) coated magnetic nanoparticles.

Herein, thermo- and pH-sensitive pectin-graft-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) copolymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized via a green and rapid synthetic approach based on microwave irradiation. Firstly, a novel thermo- and pH-sensitive pectin-graft-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) copolymer (Pec-g-PolyDMAEMA) was synthesized and then, Pec-g-PolyDMAEMA based magnetic nanoparticles (Pec-g-PolyDMAEMA@Fe3O4) were produced via microwave-assisted co-precipitation method. The thermo/pH/magnetic field multi-sensitive hybrid nanoparticle was characterized by techniques like TEM, VSM, FT-IR, and TGA/DSC. In vitro release studies of 5-Fluorouracil (FL) were carried out by altering the temperature (37 and 44°C), pH (5.5 and 7.4) and presence of an AMF. The FL release of Pec-g-PolyDMAEMA@Fe3O4@FL exhibited pH-sensitive behavior. They showed thermo/pH-sensitive FL release features with the greatest release of FL at 37°C (56%) than at 44°C (40%) and at pH of 7.4 (63%) than at pH of 5.5 (45%) within 48h. The FL release was also significantly increased (100%) with the presence of a 50 mT magnetic field. These results indicate that the developed Pec-g-PolyDMAEMA@Fe3O4 nanoparticles are promising in the application of multi-stimuli-sensitive delivery of drugs.

Pesticide residues in muscles of some marine fish species and seaweeds of Iskenderun Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean), Turkey.

Pesticide residues in muscles of nine marine fish and four seaweed species of Iskenderun Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean) have been investigated. In sampled fish species, two herbicides, three insecticides, two fungicides, and one synergist were identified and quantified. Metribuzin DADK, propamocarb HCl, and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) were detected in all the muscles of sampled fish species. Metribuzin DADK was the most abundant pesticide residue in fish muscles and the highest metribuzin DADK concentration was found in sardine (311.20 µg/kg). Propamocarb HCl concentrations varied greatly among species; from 0.530 ± 0.020 µg/kg in striped sea bream to 34.170 µg/kg in sea bass. The level of PBO ranged from 0.001 µg/kg for fourlined terapon to 0.013 µg/kg for sardine. No measurable oxamyl residue was found in any of the muscles of sampled fish species (except sardine). In seaweeds, two herbicides and two insecticides were identified and quantified. Metribuzin DADK was the most abundant and found in Cystoseira corniculata (5.01 mg/kg), Corallina elongata (0.703 mg/kg), and Jania rubens (3.85 mg/kg). Molinate was a minor contaminant and only found in Corallina elongata (0.002 mg/kg). Pyrethrin I was determined only in Padina pavonia to be 0.567 mg/kg. Pyrethrine II was found in Padina pavonia and Corallina elongate to be 1.214 and 0.229 mg/kg, respectively. The most hazardous pesticide residues of organochlorines and organophosphorus were not detected in both sampled fish muscles and seaweeds. There are no clear maximum residue limits for the detected eight pesticide residues declared for fish muscle by European Union MRL (2017). In conclusion, it can be considered that observed concentrations of pesticides in sampled nine marine fish species do not have a potential health risk for consumers. Some of the detected pesticide residues can be toxic for algae and aquatic life and regular monitoring studies are therefore essential to control the pesticide concentrations of aquatic biota in the region.

Planktonic dinoflagellates of the northern Levantine Basin, northeastern Mediterranean Sea.

In the present study, a checklist of planktonic dinoflagellates was prepared from studies conducted on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey and by evaluating previously conducted studies. The sampling areas included Iskenderun Bay, the coast near Karatas at the west end of the Bay, and Babadillimani Bight, situated at the west of Mersin Bay, and its surroundings. The data of the present study derives from over 90 locations visited between 1994 and 2004. A total of 174 taxa were reported. Ceratium (57 taxa) and Protoperidinium (28 taxa) were the most species-rich genera. The most common taxa were Ceratium kofoidii, Ceratium trichoceros, Ceratium tripos var. atlanticum, Protoperidinium divergens, Protoperidinium steinii, Ceratocorys horrida, Goniodoma acuminatum and Gonyaulax polygramma. Toxic species such as Dinophysis caudata, Dinophysis tripos were reported, and Scrippsiella trochoidea and Prorocentrum micans, which are known as red tide species elsewhere, were also common. The number of species is similar to those along other coasts of the Levantine Basin. However, some species were observed that had not previously been reported for the Levantine Basin, which can be attributed to the fact that the number of studies conducted in the region has increased and that new species may have entered the environment.

Biochemical composition of some red and brown macro algae from the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea.

Proximate analysis and the fatty acid profile of brown algae (Stypopodium schimperii) and red algae (Spyridia filamentosa, Acanthophora nayadiformis and Halymenia floresii) were investigated. The highest protein content was obtained from H. floresii (3.05% on a dry weight basis) whereas the lowest protein content was obtained from S. schimperii (1.12% dry weight). The lipid content of macro algae ranged from 1.10% for S. filamentosa to 11.53% dry weight for S. schimperii. The ash content of all algae species were found to be high (17.98-27.15%) on a dry weight basis. The fatty acid compositions of macro algae species were in the range 29.92-68.93% saturated, 17.88-39.23% monounsaturated and 6.0-17.57% polyunsaturated acids. Among them, those occurring in the highest proportions were palmitic acid (C16:0, 28.36-64.67%), myristoleic acid (C14:1, 5.54-6.7%), palmitoleic acid (C16:1, 3.33-19.51%), oleic acid (C18:1n9 cis, 6.62-13.92%), linoleic acid (C18:2n6, 1.03-4.65%), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6, 1.2-6.9%), and cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3, 1.07-9.89%). According to results obtained from this study, these macro algae species can be regarded as a potential source for food or the neutraceutical industry.