Lipid metabolism of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in two contrasting natural habitats

Sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus were harvested monthly from April 2015 to March 2016 from two sites in Sardinia (Italy). The two sites, a Posidonia oceanica meadow and a rocky bottom habitat, were naturally characterized by different food sources and availability, being mainly populated by the sea grass Posidonia oceanica and the brown algae Halopteris scoparia, respectively. Total lipids showed a minimum during winter in mature gonads, and a maximum in the summer (recovery stage). Fatty acid (FA) profiles of gut contents and gonads differed from those of the most available food sources. Levels of C18:3 (n-3) (ALA) discriminated samples from the two sites. Despite the very low amounts of C20:5 (n-3) (EPA) and C20:4 (n-6) (ARA) in P. oceanica, the main FA in gonads and gut contents were EPA and ARA in both sites. Increase in green algae intake prior to gametogenesis, especially C. cylindracea, likely affected EPA and ARA levels in gonads. The results show that P. lividus is able to concentrate lipids in gut contents and also to selectively store EPA, ARA and their precursors ALA and 18:2 (n-6) (LA). Moreover, bioconversion of ALA to EPA and of LA to ARA in P. lividus is suggested.

Marine endophytic fungi associated with Halopteris scoparia (Linnaeus) Sauvageau as producers of bioactive secondary metabolites with potential dermocosmetic application

Marine fungi and, particularly, endophytic species have been recognised as one of the most prolific sources of structurally new and diverse bioactive secondary metabolites with multiple biotechnological applications. Despite the increasing number of bioprospecting studies, very few have already evaluated the cosmeceutical potential of marine fungal compounds. Thus, this study focused on a frequent seaweed in the Portuguese coast, Halopteris scoparia, to identify the endophytic marine fungi associated with this host, and assess their ability to biosynthesise secondary metabolites with antioxidative, enzymatic inhibitory (hyaluronidase, collagenase, elastase and tyrosinase), anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, and antimicrobial (Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Malassezia furfur) activities. The results revealed eight fungal taxa included in the Ascomycota, and in the most representative taxonomic classes in marine ecosystems (Eurotiomycetes, Sordariomycetes and Dothideomycetes). These fungi were reported for the first time in Portugal and in association with H. scoparia, as far as it is known. The screening analyses showed that most of these endophytic fungi were producers of compounds with relevant biological activities, though those biosynthesised by Penicillium sect. Exilicaulis and Aspergillus chevalieri proved to be the most promising ones for being further exploited by dermocosmetic industry. The chemical analysis of the crude extract from an isolate of A. chevalieri revealed the presence of two bioactive compounds, echinulin and neoechinulin A, which might explain the high antioxidant and UV photoprotective capacities exhibited by the extract. These noteworthy results emphasised the importance of screening the secondary metabolites produced by these marine endophytic fungal strains for other potential bioactivities, and the relevance of investing more efforts in understanding the ecology of halo/osmotolerant fungi.

Antimicrobial Activities of Some Marine Macroalgae Species from Iskenderun Bay

In the present study, the seaweeds belong to Phaeophyaceae (Halopteris scoparia (Linnaeus) Sauvageau 1904, Cystoseria mediterranea Sauvageau 1912), Rhodophaceae (Liagora viscida (Forsskål) C.Agardh 1822, Laurencia nidifica J.Agardh 1852) and Chlorophyceae (Enteromorpha multiramosa Bliding, nom. inval. 1960) collected from nearby Iskenderun-Turkey of Mediterranean Sea were detected for their antimicrobial activities against seven bacterial (Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Bacillus cereus NRRL B-371, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028, Proteus vulgaris RSKK 96029) and three fungal strains (Candida albicans ATCC 10231, C. krusei ATCC 6258, C. tropicalis Y-12968). The antimicrobial activities were expressed as minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum bacterial concentrations (MBCs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were determined. According to the results obtained from MIC values of the extracts on pathogenic microorganisms were between 50 and 50 and

Antimicrobial, Antioxidative, Elastase and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Effect of Supercritical and Hydrothermal Halopteris scoparia Extract

To find out a good candidate of cosmetic source and screened for antimicrobial, antioxidant and whitening activities. In the antioxidant experiment, supercritical Halopteris scoparia extraction (SHE) and hydrothermal Halopteris scoparia extraction (HHE) were slightly different depending on the experimental method (Total polyphenol content measurement, DPPH radical scavenging ability, ABTS radical scavenging ability, and SOD-like activity) and in the enzyme experiment (Elastase, Tyrosinase inhibition activity), the supercritical extract was more effective. In supercritical fluid, Halopteris scoparia extracts showed good antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli but hydrothermal extract had no effect about the rest of the strains. Therefore, it can be expected that the supercritical Halopteris scoparia extract with excellent antibacterial activity can be used as a cosmetic material.