Abstract
BackgroundIn Tunisia, the use of hot spring waters for both health and recreation is a tradition dating back to Roman times. In fact, thermal baths, usually called “Hammam” are recommended as a therapeutic and prophylactic measure against many types of illness and toxicity. While the chemical concentration of thermal water is admittedly associated with its therapeutic effects, the inclusion in spa waters of efficient bioproduct additives produced by photosynthetic microorganisms and that act against oxidative stress may comprise a significant supplementary value for thermal centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant potential of the Tunisian thermophilic cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. and to determine its phytochemical constituents and phenolic profile.MethodsBME (Biomass Methanolic Extract), CME (Capsular polysaccharides Methanolic Extract) and RME (Releasing polysaccharides Methanolic Extract) of Leptolyngbya sp. were examined for their antioxidant activities by means of DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging and ferrous ion chelating assays. Their total phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and vitamin C contents, as well as their phenolic profiles were also determined.ResultsBME has the highest content of phenols (139 ± 1.2 mg/g), flavonoids (34.9 ± 0.32 mg CEQ/g), carotenoids (2.03 ± 0.56 mg/g) and vitamin C (15.7 ± 1.55 mg/g), while the highest MAAs content (0.42 ± 0.03 mg/g) was observed in CME. BME presented both the highest DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability with an IC50 of 0.07 and 0.38 mg/ml, respectively. The highest ferrous chelating capacity was detected in CME with an IC50 = 0.59 mg/ml. Phenolic profiles revealed the presence of 25 phenolic compounds with the existence of hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, resveratrol and pinoresinol.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. possesses abundant natural antioxidant products which may have prophylactic and therapeutic effects on many types of illness and toxicity. The present findings not only explain and reinforce the rationale behind traditional therapeutic practices in Tunisia in the exploitation of the country’s hot springs, but support the addition of Leptolyngbya to thermal waters as a means to enhance the value and reputation of the curative nature of Tunisian thermal waters.
Highlights
In Tunisia, the use of hot spring waters for both health and recreation is a tradition dating back to Roman times
Microscopic observation and morphological identification The Tunisian thermophilic cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. is a phenotypically simple cyanobacterium consisting of a long thin filament (Fig. 2a) surrounded by a transparent sheath which is occasionally open at each end (Fig. 2b)
Phytochemical composition In this study we evaluated the contents of total phenols, total flavonoids, total carotenoids, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and vitamin C for biomass (BME), capsular (CME) and releasing polysaccharide (RME) methanolic extracts of the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp
Summary
In Tunisia, the use of hot spring waters for both health and recreation is a tradition dating back to Roman times. Thermal baths, usually called “Hammam” are recommended as a therapeutic and prophylactic measure against many types of illness and toxicity. The use of thermal spring waters for health and recreation in Tunisia is a traditional activity dating back to Roman times. This tradition continues today through balneotherapy, called spa therapy, which is practiced in a Turkish bath known as a “Hammam”, and is recommended as a therapeutic and prophylactic measure against many types of illness and toxicity [1]. The mechanisms by which broad spectrums of disease are alleviated by spa therapy have not been fully elucidated. [3]
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