Browsing by Author "Moschin, Emanuela"
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- Bioprospection of the antarctic diatoms craspedostauros ineffabilis IMA082A and Craspedostauros zucchelli IMA088APublication . Trentin, Riccardo; Moschin, Emanuela; L, Custódio; Moro, IsabellaIn extreme environments such as Antarctica, a diverse range of organisms, including diatoms, serve as essential reservoirs of distinctive bioactive compounds with significant implications in pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnological fields. This is the case of the new species Craspedostauros ineffabilis IMA082A and Craspedostauros zucchellii IMA088A Trentin, Moschin, Lopes, Custódio and Moro (Bacillariophyta) that are here explored for the first time for possible biotechnological applications. For this purpose, a bioprospection approach was applied by preparing organic extracts (acetone and methanol) from freeze-dried biomass followed by the evaluation of their in vitro antioxidant properties and inhibitory activities on enzymes related with Alzheimer’s disease (acetylcholinesterase: AChE, butyrylcholinesterase: BChE), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, α–glucosidase, α–amylase), obesity (lipase) and hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). Extracts were then profiled by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–HR–MS/MS), while the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles were established by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Our results highlighted strong copper chelating activity of the acetone extract from C. ineffabilis and moderate to high inhibitory activities on AChE, BChE, α–amylase and lipase for extracts from both species. The results of the chemical analysis indicated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their derivatives as the possible compounds responsible for the observed activities. The FAME profile showed saturated fatty acids (SFA) as the main group and methyl palmitoleate (C16:1) as the predominant FAME in both species. Overall, our results suggest both Antarctic strains as potential sources of interesting molecules with industrial applications. Further studies aiming to investigate unidentified metabolites and to maximize growth yield and natural compound production are required.
- Exploring Ulva australis Areschoug for possible biotechnological applications: In vitro antioxidant and enzymatic inhibitory properties, and fatty acids contentsPublication . Trentin, Riccardo; Custódio, Luísa; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Moschin, Emanuela; Sciuto, Katia; Da Silva, José Paulo; Moro, IsabellaUlva australis Areschoug (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) is traditionally used as a foodstuff in Korea and to treat several diseases, such as hyperlipidemia and urinary ailments. It is now considered an invasive species of the Venice Lagoon (Italy). This work explored U. australis as a potential source of bioactive molecules with biotechnological applications. For that purpose, organic and water extracts were prepared from dried biomass of U. australis and evaluated for radical scavenging activity (RSA), metal chelating activities and for in vitro inhibition of enzymes related with several disorders, namely Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase), hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase), obesity (lipase), Type-2 diabetes mellitus (alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase) and skin sagging (elastase). Extracts were also evaluated for total contents of phenolics, flavonoids condensed tannins and carbohydrates. Finally, the fatty acids methyl esters profile of the biomass was established by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Extracts had low to moderate radical scavenging activity on DPPH, and a higher ability to chelate Fe2+ than Cu2+, and the maximum Fe2+ chelating capacity was observed in the tincture (IC50 = 4.82 mg/mL). Samples had a higher ability to inhibit alpha-amylase and microbial alpha-glucosidase than the other tested enzymes. The biomass of U. australis presented a highly saturated fatty acids profile, enriched in palmitic acid. These data suggest U. australis as a promising source of natural products with anti- diabetic properties and as a desirable species for biodiesel production.
- Molecular, morphological and chemical diversity of two new species of Antarctic Diatoms, Craspedostauros ineffabilis sp. nov. and Craspedostauros zucchellii sp. nov.Publication . Trentin, Riccardo; Moschin, Emanuela; Lopes, André Duarte; Schiaparelli, Stefano; L, Custódio; Moro, IsabellaThe current study focuses on the biological diversity of two strains of Antarctic diatoms (strains IMA082A and IMA088A) collected and isolated from the Ross Sea (Antarctica) during the XXXIV Italian Antarctic Expedition. Both species presented the typical morphological characters of the genus Craspedostauros: cribrate areolae, two “fore-and-aft” chloroplasts and a narrow “stauros”. This classification is congruent with the molecular phylogeny based on the concatenated 18S rDNArbcL-psbC alignment, which showed that these algae formed a monophyletic lineage including six taxonomically accepted species of Craspedostauros. Since the study of the evolution of this genus and of others raphe-bearing diatoms with a “stauros” is particularly challenging and their phylogeny is still debated, we tested alternative tree topologies to evaluate the relationships among these taxa. The metabolic fingerprinting approach was implemented for the assessment of the chemical diversity of IMA082A and IMA088A. In conclusion, combining (1) traditional morphological features used in diatoms identification, (2) phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit rDNA (18S rDNA), rbcL and psbC genes, and (3) metabolic fingerprint, we described the strains IMA082A and IMA088A as Craspedostauros ineffabilis sp. nov. and Craspedostauros zucchellii sp. nov. as new species, respectively.
- Temperature effects on growth, metabolome, lipidic profile and photosynthetic pigment content of Microglena antarctica (chlorophyceae): a comprehensive analysisPublication . Trentin, Riccardo; Moschin, Emanuela; Custódio, Luísa; Moro, IsabellaAntarctic microalgae have evolved a wide range of adaptations to survive at extreme environmental conditions. This study aimed to explore the physiological and biochemical processes occurring in Microglena antarctica (Chlorophyceae) in response to changes in temperature. M. antarctica cultivated at three distinct temperatures (4 degrees C, 8 degrees C and 16 degrees C) exhibited variations in growth patterns, metabolomes, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) profile and photosynthetic pigment concentrations. Our results highlighted a decrease in growth at 16 degrees C, confirming the cryophilic nature of this species. The growth rates at the exponential phase were observed to decrease progressively with an initial rate of (0.29 +/- 0.05 d(-1)) at the culturing temperature of 4 degrees C, followed by 8 degrees C (0.24 +/- 0.09 d(-1)), and further reduction at 16 degrees C (0.16 +/- 0.05 d(-1)). An integrative untargeted metabolomics approach combining mass spectral libraries and novel in-silico tools was employed to improve feature annotation and to provide additional information on features chemical classes. Significant differences in M. antarctica annotated compounds, chemical classes and whole metabolomes were observed among 4, 8 and 16 degrees C. Finally, targeted analyses were performed to evaluate changes in lipid profiles and photosynthetic pigment content. Higher percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were observed at 4 and 8 degrees C, approximately 65.00 % of total FAMEs, and decreased to 60.71 % at 16 degrees C. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) significantly increased at 16 degrees C, reaching up to 10.96 % of total FAMEs, in contrast to 4 degrees C and 8 degrees C, where the content of MUFAs was around 5.00 %. Additionally, chlorophyll a and carotenoid content increased by 50-100 % at 16 degrees C compared to lower temperatures. The present work highlights temperature-related responses in M. antarctica biochemical profile, combining untargeted and targeted approaches, and physiology, by growth analysis.
- Total phenolic levels, in vitro antioxidant properties, and fatty acid profile of two microalgae, tetraselmis marina strain IMA043 and naviculoid diatom strain IMA053, isolated from the North Adriatic SeaPublication . Trentin, Riccardo; Custódio, Luísa; Rodrigues, Maria João; Moschin, Emanuela; Sciuto, Katia; Silva, José Paulo da; Moro, IsabellaThis work studied the potential biotechnological applications of a naviculoid diatom (IMA053) and a green microalga (Tetraselmis marina IMA043) isolated from the North Adriatic Sea. Water, methanol, and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts were prepared from microalgae biomass and evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro antioxidant properties. Biomass was profiled for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) composition. The DCM extracts had the highest levels of total phenolics, with values of 40.58 and 86.14 mg GAE/g dry weight (DW in IMA053 and IMA043, respectively). The DCM extracts had a higher radical scavenging activity (RSA) than the water and methanol ones, especially those from IMA043, with RSAs of 99.65% toward 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt (ABTS) at 10 mg/mL, and of 103.43% against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) at 5 mg/mL. The DCM extract of IMA053 displayed relevant copper chelating properties (67.48% at 10 mg/mL), while the highest iron chelating activity was observed in the water extract of the same species (92.05% at 10 mg/mL). Both strains presented a high proportion of saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids. The results suggested that these microalgae could be further explored as sources of natural antioxidants for the pharmaceutical and food industry and as feedstock for biofuel production.