Amphiroa Anceps Research Articles

Unveiling the Role of Nano-Formulated Red Algae Extract in Cancer Management.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death, and its negative impact continues to rise globally. Chemotherapy, which is the most common therapy, has several limitations due to its tremendous side effects. Therefore, developing an alternate therapeutic agent with high biocompatibility is indeed needed. The anti-oxidative effects and bioactivities of several different crude extracts of marine algae have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we synthesized the aqueous extract (HA) from the marine algae Amphiroa anceps, and then, a liposome was formulated for that extract (NHA). The extracts were characterized using different photophysical tools like dynamic light scattering, UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and GC-MS analysis. The SEM image revealed a size range of 112-185 nm for NHA and the GC-MS results showed the presence of octadecanoic acid and n-Hexadecanoic acid in the majority. The anticancer activity was studied using A549 cells, and the NHA inhibited the cancer cells dose-dependently, with the highest killing of 92% at 100 μg/mL. The in vivo studies in the zebrafish model showed that neither the HA nor NHA of Amphiroa anceps showed any teratogenic effect. The outcome of our study showed that NHA can be a potential drug candidate for inhibiting cancer with good biocompatibility up to a dose of 100 μg/mL.

Red seaweed extracts reduce methane production by altering rumen fermentation and microbial composition in vitro.

A series of in vitro batch culture incubations were carried out to investigate changes in rumen fermentation characteristics, methane (CH4) production, and microbial composition in response to supplementation with five different red seaweed species (Amphiroa anceps, AANC; Asparagopsis taxiformis, ATAX; Chondracanthus tenellus, CTEN; Grateloupia elliptica, GELL; and Gracilaria parvispora, GPAR). Prior to the incubations, the total flavonoid and polyphenol content of the red seaweed extracts was quantified. The incubated substrate consisted of timothy hay and corn grain [60:40 dry matter (DM) basis]. Treatments were substrate mixtures without seaweed extract (CON) or substrate mixtures supplemented with 0.25 mg/mL of red seaweed extract. Samples were incubated for 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Each sample was incubated in triplicates in three separate runs. In vitro DM degradability, fermentation parameters (i.e., pH, volatile fatty acids, and ammonia nitrogen), total gas production, and CH4 production were analyzed for all time points. Microbial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing after 24 h of incubation. The highest CH4 reduction (mL/g DM, mL/g digested DM, and % of total gas production) was observed in ATAX (51.3, 50.1, and 51.5%, respectively, compared to CON; P < 0.001) after 12 h of incubation. The other red seaweed extracts reduced the CH4 production (mL/g DM; P < 0.001) in the range of 4.6-35.0% compared to CON after 24 h of incubation. After 24 h of incubation, supplementation with red seaweed extracts tended to increase the molar proportion of propionate (P = 0.057) and decreased the acetate to propionate ratio (P = 0.033) compared to the CON. Abundances of the genus Methanobrevibacter and total methanogens were reduced (P = 0.050 and P = 0.016) by red seaweed extract supplementation. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (P < 0.05, LDA ≥ 2.0) showed that UG Succinivibrionaceae, Anaeroplasma, and UG Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with higher propionate production, starch degradation, and amylase activity were relatively more abundant in red seaweed extracts than in the CON. Our results suggest that supplementation with red seaweed extracts altered the microbiota, leading to the acceleration of propionate production and reduction in CH4 production.

Antifungal, Antiviral, and HPLC Analysis of Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds of Amphiroa anceps Extract

The increasing use of chemical control agents and pesticides to prevent plant disease has resulted in several human and environmental health problems. Seaweeds, e.g., Amphiroa anceps extracts, have significant antimicrobial activities against different human pathogens. However, their anti-phytopathogenic activities are still being investigated. In the present investigation, three fungal isolates were isolated from root rot and grey mold symptomatic strawberry plants and were molecularly identified by ITS primers to Fusarium culmorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea with accession numbers MN398396, MN398398, and MN398400, respectively. In addition, the organic extract of the red alga Amphiroa anceps was assessed for its antifungal activity against the three identified fungal isolates and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection. At 100 µg/mL, the A. anceps extract had the best biological activity against R. solani, B. cinerea, and TMV infection, with inhibition rates of 66.67%, 40.61%, and 81.5%, respectively. Contrarily, the A. anceps extract exhibited lower activity against F. culmorum, causing inhibition in the fungal mycelia by only 4.4% at the same concentration. The extract’s HPLC analysis revealed the presence of numerous phenolic compounds, including ellagic acid and gallic acid, which had the highest concentrations of 19.05 and 18.36 µg/mL, respectively. In this line, the phytochemical analysis also showed the presence of flavonoids, with the highest concentration recorded for catechin at 12.45 µg/mL. The obtained results revealed for the first time the effect of the A. anceps extract against the plant fungal and viral pathogens, making the seaweed extract a promising source for natural antimicrobial agents.

Biochemical and Anti-proliferative activities of seven abundant tropical red seaweeds confirm nutraceutical potential of Grateloupia indica

Seaweeds are being used as food items in Asian countries from ancient times. Seaweeds mainly grow in intertidal zone and survive extreme environmental conditions and thus have developed metabolites, which help them survive in such conditions. Red seaweeds have proven to be rich in compounds, which are antioxidant and having many other health benefits. In this study, seven most abundantly grown red seaweeds, Gracilaria corticata (GC), Grateloupia indica (GI), Kappaphycus alvarezii (KA), Solieria robusta (SR), Amphiroa anceps (AA), Halymenia porphyriformis (HP), and Sarconema scinaioides (SS) were collected from Saurashtra coast of Arabian Sea. Harvested seaweeds were subjected to metabolite profiling, flavonoid and phenolic content analysis, different biological activities including radical scavenging, antioxidant, reducing and proliferation inhibition. Overall, GI was found to contain high contents (flavonoid and phenolic), biological activities and proliferation inhibition. Study confirms nutraceutical potential of red seaweed Grateloupia indica to be explored further for the bioactive compound or to be used as functional food.

Influence of ocean warming and acidification on habitat-forming coralline algae and their associated molluscan assemblages

When ocean warming and acidification impact habitat-forming species, substantial alterations to the supported ecological communities and associated ecosystems are likely to follow. Here, we used experimental manipulations to test the hypotheses that ocean warming and acidification would negatively affect habitat-forming coralline algal turfs and the diverse molluscan assemblages they support. Boulders covered in a turf of Amphiroa anceps with intact faunal assemblages were subjected to an orthogonal combination of current (~ 23 °C) and future (~ 26 °C) ocean temperatures, and current (~ 430 µatm) and future (~ 880 µatm) seawater pCO 2 . Ocean warming negatively impacted the cover and photosynthetic efficiency of Amphiroa fronds, whereas ocean acidification caused the biomass per unit area and the frond density of Amphiroa turf to be 56% and 59% less than current ocean conditions, respectively. Ocean acidification also caused a significant change in the structure of molluscan assemblages associated with Amphiroa turf, which included a 43% and a 61% reduction in the species richness and overall abundance of molluscs, respectively. The results demonstrate that coralline algal turfs are particularly vulnerable to ocean climate change, which has implications for the biodiversity and ecosystem functions supported by these globally distributed foundation species. • We assessed whether ocean warming and acidification impacts habitat-forming coralline algal turfs and their associated molluscan assemblages. • Ocean warming negatively impacted the cover and photosynthetic efficiency of coralline fronds. • Ocean acidification caused a 56% and a 59% reduction in the biomass and frond density of coralline turfs, respectively. • Ocean acidification caused a decrease in the richness and abundance of molluscs in coralline turfs by 43% and 61%, respectively.

In-silico analysis of bioactive compounds extracted from seaweed Amphiroa anceps on the pathogenicity of bacteria

Screening of biochemical compounds in marine algae is a gateway to understand the bioactive principles of antimicrobial activity and may be a significant tool in developing environment friendly herbicides and in drug discovery. In this study, the antibacterial activity of the seaweed Amphiroa anceps extracted with methanol and ethanol was determined against clinical isolates namely Vibrio cholerae 01 ogawa, Vibrio cholerae O139, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus 81, V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6, salmonella enteritidis type 5, Enterotoxigenic E. coli, Bacillus cereus by disc diffusion method at different concentrations. Ethanolic extract showed the highest activity against V. parahaemolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus 81 and V. cholerae. The FTIR results showed the presence of major functional groups like amine, hydrogen bonded alcohols, alkanes and aromatic rings. Four major bioactive compounds were selected based on GC-MS data and used as ligands to dock in-silico against proteins of pathogenic bacteria that were used in antibiotic studies.

Antimicrobial activities of three seaweeds extract against some human viral and bacterial pathogens

Microbial infections cause complicated health influences along with bad economic impacts. In the present investigation, three dominant seaweeds namely, Amphiroa anceps, Corallina officinalis and Sargassum filipendula were collected from different Egyptian sites at the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea during autumn 2019. Organic extracts of the three algae were screened for their antibacterial activity against three pathogenic bacteria Salmonella typhiimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, in addition to in vitro antiviral activity against Rotavirus (RV), and Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) that cause severe diseases in human. Organic extract of A. anceps, C. officinalis and S. filipendula inhibit E. coli cells by 57.1%, 85.7%, and 91.4%, respectively. The highest level of concentration of the C. officinalis extract (100 µg/mL) inhibits 100% of Staphylococcus aureus cells followed by S. filipendula and A. anceps extract which inhibit 82.5% and 75% of S. aureus. Similarly, the highest concentration of C. officinalis extract inhibits S. typhiimurium by 80%. The extract of A. anceps exhibited a high antiviral effect against RV infection with TI = 22 and virus titers lessened by 2.75 log TCID50 followed by extractions of C. officinalis with TI = 18.3 and virus titers reduced by 2.5 log TCID50. Against CVB3 infection, the extract of A. anceps causes the highest antiviral activity with TI = 15 and reduce the viral titers by 2.5 log TCID50, followed by extractions of C. officinalis with TI = 8.8 and inhibition of virus titers by 1.75 log TCID50. Extract of S. filipendula displayed the lowest antiviral effects against RV and CVB3 infection with TI = 2.4 and 1.4, respectively. The obtained results clarified that the extract of three marine seaweeds maintains a potent antimicrobial activity, making them a future promising source of new antimicrobial drugs.

Comparative Study of Nutritional Importance of Some Marine Macroalgae as a Novel Natural Source of Amino Acids

This study aimed to investigate the amino acids contents of some brown (Hormophysa cuneiformis, Sargassum muticum, and Padina minor), red (Digenea simplex, Amphiroa anceps, and Corallina mediterranea), and green macroalgae (Codium elongatum, Ulva fasciata, and Cladophora sp.) collected from the Egypt coasts, using an Eppendorf/Biotronik LC 3000 amino acid analyzer. The results showed that the total amino acid content ranged from 11.84 ± 0.55 mg/g dry weight (DW) in D. simplex to 33.43 ± 1.29 mg/g DW in U. fasciata. Threonine and L-methionine were the major essential amino acids (EAAs) in red and brown macroalgae, respectively, whereas in green macroalgae, the major EAAs varied between macroalgae species as follows: L‑lysine in C. elongatum, L-leucine in U. fasciata, and L-valine in Cladophora sp. L-aspartic and L-glutamic acids together represented a large portion of the amino acid content. The high content of EAAs in all the species under study makes them an important resource for nutritional applications.

Upgrades of coastal protective infrastructure affect benthic communities

Abstract Sea‐level rise, storm surges, ageing and wear are forcing upgrades to breakwaters and sea walls to protect coastal areas from erosion and inundation. Such upgrades involve the introduction of new material which may consequently act as an ecological disturbance that can alter established marine communities and ecosystem function. Mitigating ecological impacts requires an understanding of how species assemblages are affected by such works. Here, we use the major upgrade of a regularly wave‐overtopped breakwater as a case study to evaluate the impacts of upgrades to hard coastal protective infrastructure on benthic rocky reef communities. An asymmetrical Before‐After Control‐Impact (BACI) experimental design was used to test interactive effects of the infrastructure upgrades on benthic communities. While benthic assemblages were not significantly different from controls prior to the upgrade, improving the defensive capacity of the breakwater significantly changed community structure. Notably, most taxonomic groups showed higher cover at the control sites than at the impacted site post‐upgrade, with articulated calcareous algae (e.g. Corallina officinalis and Amphiroa anceps) showing an opposite trend. Synthesis and applications. Ecological implications and structural limitations make regular upgrading of existing infrastructure unsuitable as a long‐term management strategy. More sustainable alternatives need to be considered, such as decommissioning of structures and retreat from flood‐prone areas. This transition, however, will take time and requires a change of mindset and policies. Where upgrades are urgent, eco‐engineering techniques can mitigate impacts to habitats and associated taxa.

In Vitro Enzyme Inhibitory Properties, Secondary Metabolite Profiles and Multivariate Analysis of Five Seaweeds.

Seaweeds have been exploited as both food products and therapeutics to manage human ailments for centuries. This study investigated the metabolite profile of five seaweeds (Halimeda spp., Spyridia hypnoides (Bory de Saint-Vincent) Papenfuss, Valoniopsis pachynema (G. Martens) Børgesen, Gracilaria fergusonii J. Agardh and Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Furthermore, these seaweeds were assessed for antioxidant and inhibitory effects against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), butyryl-cholinesterase (BChE) and tyrosinase. Valoniopsis pachynema and A. anceps yielded the highest flavonoid (4.30 ± 0.29 mg RE/g) and phenolic content (7.83 ± 0.08 mg RE/g), respectively. Additionally, A. anceps exhibited significant antioxidant properties with all assays and significantly depressed BChE (IC50 = 6.68 ± 0.83 mg/mL) and α-amylase activities (IC50 = 5.34 ± 0.14 mg/mL). Interestingly, the five seaweeds revealed potent inhibitory effects against tyrosinase activity. In conclusion, A. anceps might be considered as a key source of phytoantioxidants and a potential candidate to develop nutritional supplements. Besides, the five tested seaweeds warrant further study and may be exploited as promising natural sources for managing hyperpigmentation.

Phenolic, flavonoid, and amino acid compositions reveal that selected tropical seaweeds have the potential to be functional food ingredients

Seaweeds are a rich source of metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoid, and amino acids, and have been used as food or food supplements in Asian countries since ancient times. Different metabolites are being reported from seaweeds worldwide, but there has been little reported, so far, on tropical seaweeds of the Arabian Sea coast. Eighteen abundant tropical seaweeds (7 green, 4 brown, and 7 red) were collected from the Saurashtra Coast of the Arabian Sea (Gujarat, India), and their phenolic, flavonoid, and amino acid compositions were studied. Liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy revealed the presence of important polyphenols and flavonoids. High‐performance liquid chromatography detected ascorbic acid and 19 natural flavonoids, including gallic acid, catechins, myricetin, proanthocyanin, kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, and lutein. The highest amount of ascorbic acid (26.3 mg/g DW) was detected in Ulva fasciata, followed by Ulva lactuca (20 mg/g DW) and Grateloupia indica (11.5 mg/g DW). All green and red seaweeds contained gallic acid, with the highest amount (9 mg/g DW) in Amphiroa anceps, followed by Caulerpa racemosa var. macrophysa (8.5 mg/g DW) and Caulerpa corynephora (4 mg/g DW). The highest catechin content was found in A. anceps (14 mg/g DW), followed by C. racemosa var. macrophysa and Spatoglossum asperum (11 mg/g DW). Amino acids are primary metabolites that are important in the human diet. Among the green seaweeds, the highest amounts of leucine (0.2 mg/g protein), lysine (0.5 mg/g protein), methionine (0.4 mg/g protein), phenylalanine (0.2 mg/g protein), valine (1.3 mg/g protein), proline (48 mg/g protein), and tyrosine (28 mg/g protein) were detected in Caulerpa spp. The highest amounts of the sulfur‐rich amino acids, methionine (1 mg/g protein), and cysteine (9 mg/g protein), were found in the red seaweed Gracilaria corticata. This study reveals that tropical seaweeds, including Caulerpa spp., Spatoglossum asperum, Stoechospermum polypodioides, Gracilaria corticata, and Grateloupia indica, are promising as functional food ingredients or dietary supplements for daily intake. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present study demonstrates that tropical seaweeds, especially Caulerpa species (corynephora, racemosa and chemnitzia), S. asperum, S. polypodioides, G. corticata, and G. indica are rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including ascorbic acid, gallic acid, catechins, myricetin, proanthocyanin, and essential amino acids. These metabolites are natural antioxidants and own high bioactivity. The article reveals the functional food or nutraceutical potential of tropical seaweeds. As practical perspective, tropical seaweeds such as Caulerpa has potential to be processed further as a functional food or may be explored for the extraction of nutraceuticals.

Ocean warming has greater and more consistent negative effects than ocean acidification on the growth and health of subtropical macroalgae

Macroalgae are the major habitat-forming organisms in many coastal temperate and subtropical marine systems. Although climate change has been identified as a major threat to the persistence of macroalgal beds, the combined effects of ocean warming and ocean acidification on algal performance are poorly understood. Here we investigate the effects of increased temperature and acidification on the growth, calcification and nutritional content of 6 common subtropical macroalgae; Sargassum linearifolium, Ulva sp., Amphiroa anceps, Corallina officinalis, Delisea pulchra and Laurencia decussata. Algae were reared in a factorial cross of 3 temperatures (23°C [ambient], 26°C and 28°C) and 3 pH levels (8.1 [ambient], 7.8 and 7.6) for 2 wk. The highest (28°C) temperature decreased the growth of all 6 macroalgal species, irrespective of the pH levels. In contrast, the effect of decreased pH on growth was variable. The growth of Ulva sp. and C. officinalis increased, L. decussata decreased, while the remaining 3 species were unaffected. Interestingly, the differential responses of macroalgae to ocean acidification were unrelated to whether or not a species was a calcifying alga, or their carbon-uptake mechanism—2 processes that are predicted to be sensitive to decreased pH. The growth of the calcifying algae (C. officinalis and A. anceps) was not affected by reduced pH but calcification of these 2 algae was reduced when exposed to a combination of reduced pH and elevated temperature. The 3 species capable of uptake of bicarbonate, S. linearifolium, L. decussata and Ulva sp., displayed positive, negative and neutral changes in growth, respectively, in response to reduced pH. The C:N ratio for 5 of the 6 species was unaffected by either pH or temperature. The consistent and predictable negative effects of temperature on the growth and calcification of subtropical macroalgae suggests that this stressor poses a greater threat to the persistence of subtropical macroalgal populations than ocean acidification under ongoing and future climate change.

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticle by Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne and Its Biomedical and Ecological Implications

The present study synthesized silver nanoparticles by using seaweed extract and tested it against clinical bacterial pathogens and also with seeds to assess its friendly potential to germination. The biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles was characterized with UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and X-ray Diffraction study. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using agar disc diffusion and the seed germination test was done with standard protocol. The nanoparticles exhibited highest antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (0.95 ± 0.057 cm), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (0.63 ± 0.05 cm), as compared to antibiotic Chloramphenicol (5 mg/ml). The per cent seed germination was 75% and 80% respectively in Abelmoschus esculentus and Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus treated with nanoparticles, while it was only in a range of 20 to 40% in control seeds treated with normal water, seaweed extract and seaweed liquid bio-fertilizer. The antibacterial activity of the biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticle is needed more detailed investigation for its biomedical application. The potential of bio-nano-fertilizer is to be assessed for the whole plant life cycle up to quality and quantity of vegetable yield.

Coralline algae elevate pH at the site of calcification under ocean acidification.

Coralline algae provide important ecosystem services but are susceptible to the impacts of ocean acidification. However, the mechanisms are uncertain, and the magnitude is species specific. Here, we assess whether species-specific responses to ocean acidification of coralline algae are related to differences in pH at the site of calcification within the calcifying fluid/medium (pHcf ) using δ11 B as a proxy. Declines in δ11 B for all three species are consistent with shifts in δ11 B expected if B(OH)4- was incorporated during precipitation. In particular, the δ11 B ratio in Amphiroa anceps was too low to allow for reasonable pHcf values if B(OH)3 rather than B(OH)4- was directly incorporated from the calcifying fluid. This points towards δ11 B being a reliable proxy for pHcf for coralline algal calcite and that if B(OH)3 is present in detectable proportions, it can be attributed to secondary postincorporation transformation of B(OH)4- . We thus show that pHcf is elevated during calcification and that the extent is species specific. The net calcification of two species of coralline algae (Sporolithon durum, and Amphiroa anceps) declined under elevated CO2 , as did their pHcf . Neogoniolithon sp. had the highest pHcf , and most constant calcification rates, with the decrease in pHcf being ¼ that of seawater pH in the treatments, demonstrating a control of coralline algae on carbonate chemistry at their site of calcification. The discovery that coralline algae upregulate pHcf under ocean acidification is physiologically important and should be included in future models involving calcification.

Biochemical Compositions of Seaweeds Collected from Olaikuda and Vadakkadu, Rameshwaram, Southeast Coast of India

Some seaweed has been used as an important source of commercial application of phycocolloids, agar, and alginate consequently some seaweeds have also been utilized as food and food ingredients due to their high nutritive compositions such as carbohydrates, protein, lipid, amino acids, fatty acids, fibre and minerals. In different countries, including India, seaweeds are gradually taking place as food items in the market, so their biochemical components analysis will decipher their nutritional implications. In this investigation, total 33 species of seaweeds were collected from the southeast coast of India and analyzed for their biochemical composition such as carbohydrate including glucose and starch, protein and lipid. The carbohydrate content varied from 15.20 ± 0.69 mg/gm dry weight (Padina boergesenii) to 97.69 ± 2.3 mg/gm dry wt (Gracilaria edulis). The carbohydrate content of red seaweeds was comparably higher than green and brown seaweeds. The protein content was minimum in Cystoseira indica (76.23 ± 0.21 mg/gm dry wt) and maximum in Amphiroa anceps (96.06 ± 0.95 mg/gm dry wt) and lipid content was comparatively high in Valoniopsis pachynema (82.33 ± 2.51 mg/gm dry wt) and Caulerpa racemosa (81.06 ± 0.37 mg/gm dry wt). The glucose content was high in Digenea simplex (0.78 ± 0.004 mg/gm dry wt) followed by Laurencia papillosa (0.61 ± 0.08 mg/gm dry wt) likewise starch content was also high in Digenea simplex (0.72 ± 0.01 mg/gm dry wt) and Laurencia papillosa (0.54 ± 0.00 mg/gm dry wt). From this study, it was concluded that the above mentioned seaweeds will be used as food after further more detailed analysis of the other biochemical components.

Isolation of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Seaweeds Amphiroa anceps against Chicken Meat Associated Pathogens

The biodiversity of ocean living resources provide an ample scope for the extraction of drugs and chemicals for therapeutic purposes. Sea weed Amphiroa anceps, collected from Thondi-Palk Strait region of Tamil Nadu, was studied for antagonistic activity of proteins. Seaweed species were identified based on specula morphology. Ethyl Acetate extracts yielded a total of 0.9 g, 0.12 g, 0.02 g, 0.14 g and 0.17 g from 1.5 g of sponge respectively. The antagonistic activity of crude extract against bacterial pathogens showed clear inhibition zones against Yersinia sp., Streptococcus sp. and Vibrio sp. The extracted Seaweed strain had Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations against all the three chicken meat associated pathogens, Vibrio sp., Yersinia sp. and Streptococcus sp. and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration against two chicken meat associated pathogens, Vibrio sp. and Yersinia sp.

Plant Growth Promoting Effect of Seaweeds Collected from East Coast of Tamil Nadu, India

The continuous use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture field is highly toxic to the nature and also disturbs the soil living beneficial microorganisms. Seaweeds are well known commercially available marine plants and it has many eco-friendly applications. Thus the present study was carried out develop a plant growth promoting seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) for agricultural crop plants. In this study commercially available eight different seaweeds such as Ulva fasciata, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Dictyota dichotoma, Sargassum wightii, Padina boergesenii, Amphiroa anceps, Avanthopleura spicifera and Spyridia hypnoides, were collected from the rocky shore areas of Mandapam Coast, Rameshwaram District, Tamil Nadu, India. The eight different seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) was prepared to determine their plant growth promoting ability in agriculturally important crop plants such as, Green gram, Black gram, Mustard and Paddy by seed germination and soil drenching methods in both sterilized and unsterilized soil at laboratory scale experimental setups. In seed germination assay, 100% germination was observed in seeds soaked with Sargassum wightii, Padina boergesenii and Ulva fasciata. In soil treatment and plant culture study after 15 days of sowing the root length, shoot length and fresh weight of all the seedlings were recorded in all the setups. In that, Sargassum wightii, Padina boergesenii and Ulva fasciata seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) have shown the maximum plant growth promoting activity in unsterilized soil than the sterilized soil. The results were well demonstrated the effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) in plant growth promotion and suggested to use this fertilizer to enhance the profitability in agricultural field.

Endophytic Fungal Cellulase for Extraction of Carrageenan and its Use in Antibiotics Amended Film Preparation

The use of non biodegradable plastic based packaging materials has been stopped in several food industries due to their disadvantages, so bio based polymers like polysaccharides are the alternative source for the preparation of films in food packaging. Thus, the present work was aimed to prepare the carrageenan (polysaccharides) based antibiotics amended films to prevent the food borne microbial pathogen in packed foods to extend its shelf life. In this study, morphologically 25 different endophytic fungal strains were isolated from different salt marsh plants, such as, Sweda monica and S.maritima were collected from Kelambakam Coastal area, East Coast of Tamil Nadu, India and they were named as, AEF51 to AEF75. All the fungal isolates were screened for cellulase activity and the maximum cellulase producing potential strain AEF58 was mass cultured. After the partial purification of cellulase it was lyophilized and stored for further use. The red seaweed Amphiroa anceps was collected from Kootapuli Village, Valliyoor Taluk, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India. From that, the carrageenan was extracted by biological method using endophytic fungal cellulase. After the extraction of carrageenan the antibiotics such as Amoxycillin, Tetracycline, Chloroamphenical, Erythromycin, Doxycyoline, Ofloxacin, Cephalexin, Dictoxacilin and Ampicillin were amended and different films were prepared using standard protocols. All the films were tested against different seafood borne pathogens such as, E.coli, Vibrio cholerae, V.parahaemolyticus, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp and Listeria sp (Obtained from AMET Microbial Culture Collection Centre). Among them, the Cephalexin amended film was showed the maximum zone of inhibition (ZOI) against all the tested pathogens. From the results, the study concluded that, the extraction of carragenan by biological substances increase the production and antibiotic amended carrageenan based films will be used for food packaging to control the pathogenic microbes and preserve the foods from spoilage.

Dissolved histamine: a potential habitat marker promoting settlement and metamorphosis in sea urchin larvae

Many species of marine invertebrate larvae settle and metamorphose in response to chemicals produced by organisms associated with the adult habitat, and histamine is a cue for larvae of the sea urchin Holopneustes purpurascens. This study investigated the effect of histamine on larval metamorphosis of six sea urchin species. Histamine induced metamorphosis in larvae of three lecithotrophic species (H. purpurascens, Holopneustes inflatus and Heliocidaris erythrogramma) and in one planktotrophic species (Centrostephanus rodgersii). Direct comparisons of metamorphic rates of lecithotrophic and planktotrophic larvae in assays cannot be made due to different proportions of larvae being competent. Histamine (10 μM) induced metamorphosis in 95% of larvae of H. purpurascens and H. inflatus after 1 h, while the coralline alga Amphiroa anceps induced metamorphosis in 40–50% of these larvae. Histamine (10 μM) and A. anceps induced 40 and 80% metamorphosis, respectively, in the larvae of H. erythrogramma after 24 h. Histamine (10 μM) and the coralline alga Corallina sp. induced 30 and 70% metamorphosis, respectively, in the larvae of C. rodgersii after 24 h. No metamorphosis of any larval species occurred in seawater controls. Larvae of two planktotrophic species (Tripneustes gratilla and Heliocidaris tuberculata) did not metamorphose in response to histamine. Seagrasses, the host plants of H. inflatus, induced rapid metamorphosis in larvae of the two Holopneustes species, and several algae induced metamorphosis in C. rodgersii larvae. Histamine leaching from algae and seagrasses may act as a habitat marker and metamorphic cue for larvae of several ecologically important sea urchin species.

UV–VIS and HPLC studies on Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne

The present study was aimed to explore phytochemical constituents present in Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne. The extracts of A. anceps were scanned in the wavelength ranging from 200 to 1100nm by using Shimadzu Spectrophotometer. HPLC method was performed on a Shimadzu LC-10 AT VP HPLC system, which was equipped with a model LC-10AT pump, UV–VIS detector SPD-10AT, Rheodyne injector fitted with a 20μl loop and auto injector SIL-10AT. Out of 156 (2×6×13=156) tests for the presence or absence of the above compounds, 42 tests gave positive results and the remaining 114 showed negative results. The 42 positive results showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, phenolic groups, saponins, tannin, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, proteins and sugars. The results of the ash analysis discovered the existence of sulphur, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous and chlorine in all the extracts of A. anceps. The UV–VIS profile of A. anceps benzene extracts showed peaks at 670, 612, 536, 504, and 412nm with the absorption 2.004, 0.333, 0.417, 0.608 and 3.311. The UV–VIS profile of A. anceps chloroform extracts showed the peaks at 666, 608, 538, 502 and 416nm with the absorption 1.029, 0.39, 0.458, 0.552 and 2.648. The qualitative UV–VIS spectrum profile of A. anceps methanolic extracts showed peaks at 656 and 330nm with the absorption 0.295 and 3.656. The HPLC profile of A. anceps aqueous extracts showed two prominent peaks at a retention time of 1.737 and 2.680min and some moderate peaks were observed with the retention time 4.083, 6.387 and 1.490min. The qualitative HPLC fingerprint profile of isopropanol extract of A. anceps showed one prominent peak at a retention time of 2.673min. The HPLC profile of A. anceps methanolic extracts illustrated two prominent peaks at a retention time of 1.927 and 2.667min and some moderate peaks were also observed with the retention time 2.347, 4.077 and 5.873min, respectively.