Biomedical properties of Cystoseira species: insights into nutra- and pharmaceutical applications

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Report of in vitro antileishmanial properties of Iberian macroalgae

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

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 CH2Cl2Cystoseira baccata, Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira tamariscifolia, Cystoseira usneoides, Dictyota spiralis and Plocamium cartilagineum extracts were active towards promastigotes (IC50 29.8-101.8 μg/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 μg/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.

2018Journal article

Restricted

A comparative evaluation of biological activities and bioactive compounds of the seagrasses Zostera marina and Zostera noltei from southern Portugal

Publication . Custódio, Luísa; Laukaityte, Simona; Engelen, Aschwin; Rodrigues, Maria Joao; Pereira, Hugo; Vizetto-Duarte, C; Barreira, Luísa; Rodriguez, Hortensia; Albericio, Fernando; Varela, João

This work assessed the antioxidant potential, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and the in vitro cytotoxic activity of extracts of the seagrasses Zostera marina and Zostera noltei collected from southern Portugal. The total phenolic contents (TPCs), the rosmarinic acid (RA) concentration (HPLC/DAD) and the fatty acid (FA) profile (GC/MS) are also described. Z. marina had the highest TPC, radical scavenging activity against DPPH radicals and copper chelating activity. Z. noltei had metal chelation capacity to copper and iron ions. None of the species was able to inhibit AChE. Both seagrasses had high levels of polyunsaturated FAs. Z. marina significantly and selectively reduced the viability of tumorous neuronal cells. Z. noltei was highly toxic for the three cell lines tested and was selective against hepatocarcinoma cells at the concentration of 100g/mL. RA was the main compound identified in Z. marina, but not in Z. noltei.

2016-03Journal article

Open Access

Biomedical properties of cystoseira species: insights into nutra- and pharmaceutical applications

Publication . Duarte, Catarina Vizetto Guerreiro; Varela, J.

Brown algae contain interesting nutritional profiles, usually with low levels of lipids but relatively high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and minerals. Moreover, brown algae have secondary metabolites that display several biological activities. However, studies on the chemical composition, bioactive compounds and respective biological activities of brown algae are scarce. Here it is shown that Cystoseira species have potential biotechnological applications. Among the species evaluated, C. tamariscifolia and C. baccata were those that in general had the highest 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 K, Ca and Fe, and a favorable Na/K ratio. C. tamariscifolia, C. compressa and C. nodicaulis stood out for their high polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) and low n-6/n- 3 PUFA ratios as well as appropriate unsaturation, atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, suggesting a high nutritional value. C. tamariscifolia hexane extract had the highest antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities against a panel of tumoral cells. This extract was particularly selective for hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) when compared to non-tumoral cells. HepG2 cells presented pro-apoptotic features and disaggregation on 3D multicellular tumor spheroids after incubation with the extract. Demethoxy cystoketal chromane was isolated and identified as an anti-proliferative compound, selective towards HepG2 cells. Furthermore, isololiolide was isolated for the first time also from C. tamariscifolia hexane extract. The latter compound exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against three human tumoral cell lines, namely HepG2 cells, whereas no cytotoxicity was found in non-malignant human fibroblasts. Isololiolide disrupted the HepG2 normal cell cycle and induced apoptosis. Moreover, it altered the expression of proteins that are important in the apoptotic cascade, increasing PARP cleavage and p53 protein expression, and decreasing procaspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression levels. Taken together, the results here presented highlight the potential of Cystoseira macroalgae as sources of products for nutra- and pharmaceutical applications.

2016-11-24Doctoral thesis

Open Access

Isololiolide, a carotenoid metabolite isolated from the brown alga Cystoseira tamariscifolia, is cytotoxic and able to induce apoptosis in hepatocarcinoma cells through caspase-3 activation, decreased Bcl-2 levels, increased p53 expression and PARP cleavage

Publication . Vizetto-Duarte, C; Custódio, Luísa; Gangadhar, Katkam N.; Lago, João Henrique G.; Dias, Catarina; Matos, Ana Marta; Neng, Nuno; Nogueira, José Manuel Florêncio; Barreira, Luísa; Albericio, Fernando; Rauter, Amelia P.; Varela, João

Background: Brown macroalgae have attracted attention because they display a wide range of biological activities, including antitumoral properties. In this study we isolated isololiolide from Cystoseira tamariscifolia for the first time.Purpose: To examine the therapeutical potential of isololiolide against tumor cell lines.Methods/Study design: The structure of the compound was established and confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR as well as HRMS spectral analysis. The in vitro cytotoxicity was analyzed by colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in tumoral as well as in non-tumoral cell lines. Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. Alteration of expression levels in proteins important in the apoptotic cascade was analyzed by western blotting.Results: Isololiolidewas isolated for the first time from the brown macroalga C. tamariscifolia. Isololiolide exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against three human tumoral cell lines, namely hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells, whereas no cytotoxicity was found in non-malignant MRC-5 and HFF-1 human fibroblasts. Isololiolide completely disrupted the HepG2 normal cell cycle and induced significant apoptosis. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that isololiolide altered the expression of proteins that are important in the apoptotic cascade, increasing PARP cleavage and p53 expression while decreasing procaspase-3 and Bcl-2 levels.Conclusion: Isololiolide isolated from C. tamariscifolia is able to exert a selective cytotoxic activity on hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells as well as induce apoptosis through the modulation of apoptosis-related proteins. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

2016-05Journal article

Open Access

Sustainable valorization of halophytes from the Mediterranean area: a comprehensive evaluation of their fatty acid profile and implications for human and animal nutrition

Publication . Vizetto-Duarte, C; Figueiredo, Filipe; Rodrigues, Maria João; Polo, Cristina; Rešek, Eva; Custódio, Luísa

Halophytic plants can provide an economical and environmentally sustainable source of products for human and animal feeding, in the context of the increase of worldwide emergent semi-arid landscapes. This work reports a comprehensive evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of fatty acids (FA) of nineteen Mediterranean halophytes collected in southern Portugal, with the purpose of establishing their possible uses as food and feed. For FA determination, lipids and free FA were converted to the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and analyzed by GC-MS. Beta maritima had the highest FAME levels (7.3 mg/g DW) while Suaeda vera had the lowest content (1.0 mg/g DW). The most common saturated fatty acid (SFA) across all studied species was palmitic acid. The most prevalent monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) was oleic acid. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels were led by linoleic acid. Less common FAMEs were also detected, namely eicosadienoic and hexadecatrienoic acids. Cotula coronopifolia, Phragmites australis and Suaeda vera displayed the best FA nutritional profiles. These species also showed bioactivities relevant for both human and animal health according to the literature and thus, collectively with this study, they could be further explored as food and feed.

2019Journal article

Open Access