Marine photosynthetic organisms of the Algarve coast with biomedical applications

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A new insight into the influence of habitat on the biochemical properties of three commercial sea cucumber species

Publication . González-Wangüemert, Mercedes; Roggatz, Christina C.; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Barreira, Luísa; Silva, Manuela; Custódio, Luísa

This work makes a comparative evaluation of the biochemical profile of three sea commercial cucumber species (Holothuria mammata, H. polii and H. tubulosa) caught from different locations of the Mediterranean Sea (SE Spain). All species had high levels of moisture (from 73.6% in H. mammata to 81.2% in H. tubulosa), crude ash (from 9.61% in H. mammata to 14.7% in H. tubulosa) and protein (3.01% in H. tubulosa to 11.1% in H. mammata). They also had a low fat content, from 0.21% in H. tubulosa to 0.55% in H. mammata. Holothuria polii had intermediate values between the other two species, for all considered variables. All species had adequate protein/lipid ratios (H. mammata, 20:1; H. polii, 23:1; H. tubulosa, 14:1) and low lipid levels, enriched in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid. The fatty acid profile suggests that H. polii is feeding on sediments more influenced by terrestrial inputs than the remaining species. Holothuria mammata and H. tubulosa are feeding on marine food sources mainly, but also with some terrestrial influence. The most abundant amino acids detected were alanine, arginine, glutamic acid, and glycine. All species had similar contents of essential amino acids (EAA) and ratios of EAA/non-essential amino acids. Holothuria tubulosa had a high content of toxic metals including Cr, Pb and Ni. This work highlights differences in compositional characteristics between different species of the same genus (Holothuria) from different locations.

2018-11-26Journal article

Open Access

Antileishmanial activity of meroditerpenoids from the macroalgae Cystoseira baccata

Publication . Sousa, Carolina Bruno de; Gangadhar, Katkam N.; Morais, Thiago R.; Conserva, Geanne A. A.; Vizetto-Duarte, C; Pereira, H.; Laurenti, Marcia D.; Campino, Lenea; Levy, Debora; Uemi, Miriam; Barreira, Luísa; Custódio, L.; Passero, Luiz Felipe D.; Lago, Joao Henrique G.; Varela, João

The development of novel drugs for the treatment of leishmaniases continues to be crucial to overcome the severe impacts of these diseases on human and animal health. Several bioactivities have been described in extracts from macroalgae belonging to the Cystoseira genus. However, none of the studies has reported the chemical compounds responsible for the antileishmanial activity observed upon incubation of the parasite with the aforementioned extracts. Thus, this work aimed to isolate and characterize the molecules present in a hexane extract of Cystoseira baccata that was found to be bioactive against Leishmania infantum in a previous screening effort. A bioactivity-guided fractionation of the C. baccata extract was carried out and the inhibitory potential of the isolated compounds was evaluated via the MIT assay against promastigotes and murine macrophages as well as direct counting against intracellular amastigotes. Moreover, the promastigote ultrastructure, DNA fragmentation and changes in the mitochondrial potential were assessed to unravel their mechanism of action. In this process, two antileishmanial meroditerpenoids, (3R)- and (3S)-tetraprenyltoluquinol (1a/1b) and (3R)- and (3S)-tetraprenyltoluquinone (2a/2b), were isolated. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the growth of the L. infantum promastigotes (IC50 = 44.9 +/- 4.3 and 94.4 +/- 10.1 mu M, respectively), inducing cytoplasmic vacuolization and the presence of coiled multilamellar structures in mitochondria as well as an intense disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Compound 1 decreased the intracellular infection index (IC50 = 25.0 +/- 4.1 mu M), while compound 2 eliminated 50% of the intracellular amastigotes at a concentration > 88.0 mu M. This work identified compound 2 as a novel metabolite and compound 1 as a biochemical isolated from Cystoseira algae displaying antileishmanial activity. Compound 1 can thus be an interesting scaffold for the development of novel chemotherapeutic molecules for canine and human visceral leishmaniases studies. This work reinforces the evidence of the marine environment as source of novel molecules. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

2017-03Journal article

Open Access

Proximate biochemical composition and mineral content of edible species from the genus Cystoseira in Portugal

Publication . Vizetto-Duarte, C; Custódio, Luísa; Barreira, Luísa; da Silva, Manuela Moreira; Rauter, Amelia P.; Albericio, Fernando; Varela, J.

Macroalgae are valuable resources for human consumption in many countries. This work reports for the first time a comparative evaluation of the nutritional properties of five edible macroalgae from the genus Cystoseira, namely C. humilis, C. tamariscifolia, C. nodicaulis, C. compressa and C. baccata. For this purpose, their proximate composition was determined in terms of moisture, ash, and total contents of protein, lipids, carbohydrates and mineral profile. Cystoseira tamariscifolia and C. baccata were the species that in general had the higher ash, protein and lipid contents, while the highest levels of moisture and total carbohydrates were detected in C. nodicaulis and C. compressa. Cystoseira species had also high amounts of minerals, especially of potassium, calcium and iron, and a favorable Na/K ratio. The present study shows that Cystoseira has a balanced nutritional composition, suitable for human consumption, and that its intake can contribute to a healthy and well-balanced diet.

2016-08Journal article

Open Access

Report of in vitro antileishmanial properties of Iberian macroalgae

Publication . Bruno De Sousa, Carolina; Lago, Joao Henrique G.; Macridachis, Jorge; Oliveira, Marta; Fonseca Brito, Luis; Vizetto-Duarte, Catarina; Florindo, Claudia; Hendrickx, Sarah; Maes, Louis; Morais, Thiago; Uemi, Miriam; Neto, Luis; Dionísio, Lídia; Cortes, Sofia; Barreira, Luísa; Custódio, Luísa; Albericio, Fernando; Campino, Lenea; Varela, J.

Here is reported the anti Leishmania infantum activity of 48 hexane, CH2Cl2 and MeOH extracts from 16 macroalgae collected on the Iberian Coast. Seven hexane and CH2Cl2 Cystoseira baccata, Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira tamariscifolia, Cystoseira usneoides, Dictyota spiralis and Plocamium cartilagineum extracts were active towards promastigotes (IC50 29.8-101.8 mu g/mL) inducing strong morphological alterations in the parasites. Hexane extracts of C. baccata and C. barbata were also active against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 5.1 and 6.8 mu g/mL, respectively). Fatty acids, triacylglycerols, carotenoids, steroids and meroterpenoids were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gas chromatography in the Cystoseira extracts. These results suggest that Cystoseira macroalgae contain compounds with antileishmanial activity, which could be explored as scaffolds to the development of novel sources of antiparasitic derivatives. [GRAPHICS] .

2019-06Journal article

Open Access

Bursatella leachii from Mar Menor as a source of bioactive molecules: preliminary evaluation of the nutritional profile, In vitro biological activities, and fatty acids contents

Publication . Braga, Tiago; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Pereira, Hugo; Varela, João; Barreira, Luísa; Gonzalez-Wanguemert, Mercedes; Custódio, Luísa

Marine invertebrates contain nutritionally important elements that make them suitable to be included in the human diet, and they are considered an outstanding source of secondary metabolites with multiple biotechnological uses. The sea hare Bursatella leachii is an invasive species in Mar Menor that can be managed through the control of its reproduction and/or by massive biomass removal. In this context, this work evaluated the possible use of biomass from B. leachii in the food and cosmetics industries. Biomass was appraised for nutritional properties, and extracts were prepared and evaluated in vitro for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition, and for total contents in different phenolic groups. It had a moderate moisture level, low ash and fat levels, and an adequate protein amount and protein/lipid ratio. The fatty acids (FA) profile was mainly saturated, dominated by palmitic acid. The methanol extract had the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The acetone extract had the strongest capacity to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, reduce iron, inhibit tyrosinase, decrease nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia cells, and the upmost levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. Our results suggest multiple biotechnological applications for B. leachii biomass in different economic areas.

2017Journal article

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