Bioprospecting Activities Research Articles

A comprehensive review on microbial diversity and anticancer compounds derived from seaweed endophytes: a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic approach.

Seaweed endophytes are a rich source of microbial diversity and bioactive compounds. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the microbial diversity associated with seaweeds and their interaction between them. These diverse bacteria and fungi have distinct metabolic pathways, which result in the synthesis of bioactive compounds with potential applications in a variety of health fields. We examine many types of seaweed-associated microorganisms, their bioactive metabolites, and their potential role in cancer treatment using a comprehensive literature review. By incorporating recent findings, we hope to highlight the importance of seaweed endophytes as a prospective source of novel anticancer drugs and promote additional studies in this area. We also investigate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of these bioactive compounds because understanding their absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADMET), and toxicity profiles is critical for developing bioactive compounds with anticancer potential into effective cancer drugs. This knowledge ensures the safety and efficacy of proposed medications prior to clinical trials. This study not only provides promise for novel and more effective treatments for cancer with fewer side effects, but it also emphasizes the necessity of sustainable harvesting procedures and ethical considerations for protecting the delicate marine ecology during bioprospecting activities.

Evaluation of the impact of anthropogenic activities on sustainable use of medicinal biodiversity in realization of Kenya’s vision 2030 agenda for sustainable development

Anthropogenic activities are posing a serious threat to Kenyan medicinal biodiversity and its contribution in the provision of traditional medicines and the potential of getting new drug discoveries. This poses a challenge to the country’s achievement of vision 2030 development agenda as envisaged under the health sector. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic factors such as settlement, cultivation, mining and bioprospecting activities on sustainable use of Kenyan medicinal biodiversity in realization of vision 2030 sustainable development agenda. The research article adopted a mixed methods approach including use of desk research and qualitative interview administered to 14 organizations involved in conservation of medicinal biodiversity in the country. Results showed that anthropogenic activities are not carried out in a way that guarantees conservation and sustainable use of medicinal biodiversity because of lack of collaboration, inappropriate legal frameworks and clash of roles occasioned by unclear demarcation of mandate among the organizations meant to safeguard medicinal biodiversity. A strong stakeholder’s collaboration is recommended to manage and develop medicinal biodiversity and its sustainable use since it has a great potential to support a robust cultural and social economic development that will lead to realization of the country’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

China’s Role of Bioprospecting in Antarctica and Future Prospects

Abstract The rapid advancement of biotechnology in the late 20th century promoted bioprospecting in Antarctica and has been a regular topic of discussion in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) since 2002. However, there still needs to be an explicit regulatory framework in the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). Meanwhile, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) posed competitive governance mandates on regulating bioprospecting in the Antarctic Treaty Area and challenging the legitimacy of ATS. China’s increasing Antarctic presence is also reflected in its bioprospecting activities. However, its enthusiasm for bioprospecting remains inconsistent with its approach towards the ATS through reluctant contribution on regulation. This article will analyze the discussions on bioprospecting in the ATCM as contained within the ACTM meeting documents. Then, this article will analyze how China should actively pursue legitimate bioprospecting interests in the Antarctic from three aspects, which include improving domestic laws and regulations on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing activities, speedy enactment of Antarctic legislation, and leading the establishment of regulations on Antarctic bioprospecting in the ATCM. It concludes with an outlook on bioprospecting regulation and China’s role in future prospects.

Bioprospecting in Nigeria: Efficacy of the Regulatory Law

The quest for superfluous wealth led to the emergence of myriad of ailments some of which defiled laboratory remedy. In view of this, molecular biologists decided to look beyond the four corners of the laboratory and scout for biodiversity materials, mostly in developing countries, in order to extract its medicinal compound to cure some of these ailments. This is otherwise known as bioprospecting. This paper tends to examine the sustainability of environmental resources through bioprospecting activities or the adverse effect of bioprospecting on the environment and make recommendation accordingly.

A Round Trip to the Desert: In situ Nanopore Sequencing Informs Targeted Bioprospecting.

Bioprospecting expeditions are often performed in remote locations, in order to access previously unexplored samples. Nevertheless, the actual potential of those samples is only assessed once scientists are back in the laboratory, where a time-consuming screening must take place. This work evaluates the suitability of using Nanopore sequencing during a journey to the Tabernas Desert (Spain) for forecasting the potential of specific samples in terms of bacterial diversity and prevalence of radiation- and desiccation-resistant taxa, which were the target of the bioprospecting activities. Samples collected during the first day were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing using a mobile laboratory. Results enabled the identification of locations showing the greatest and the least potential, and a second, informed sampling was performed focusing on those sites. After finishing the expedition, a culture collection of 166 strains belonging to 50 different genera was established. Overall, Nanopore and culturing data correlated well, since samples holding a greater potential at the microbiome level also yielded a more interesting set of microbial isolates, whereas samples showing less biodiversity resulted in a reduced (and redundant) set of culturable bacteria. Thus, we anticipate that portable sequencers hold potential as key, easy-to-use tools for in situ-informed bioprospecting strategies.

Testing The Effectiveness of The Pregnancy of Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract Gel Formula 10% for Striae Gravidarum Management in Pregnant Women

Referring to the Sustainable Development Goals, there are 4 pillars, which one of them is the realization of biodiversity through bioprospecting activities in the fulfillment of medicinal raw materials. Centella asiatica or daun pegagan is a plant with an aromatic smell and has many benefits. Centella asiatica contains collagen. The collagen has functions to tighten and elasticize the skin fibers so that it can overcome striae gravidarum. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of the gel preparation of Centella asiatica. This gel was made by extracting the Centella asiatica leaves at 10% concentration for the treatment of striae gravidarum grade 1, 2 and 3 which examined before and after the intervention. The research method is quasi-experimental with a one group pretest-posttest design approach. The repondents are 3 pregnant women who had experiencing striae gravidarum grade 1, 2 and 3. This research was carried out at the Mariyat Health Center, Sorong Regency from June to August 2021. The research instrument use G.S.S. Atwal L.K (2006) method to assess the degree of striae gravidarum, paired T test for the analysis. The results of the research, gel preparation of Centella asiatica leaves extract formula (10%) is effective for treatment of striae gravidarum grade 1,2 and 3.

Biological Prospecting in Antarctica – A Solution-Based Approach to Regulating the Collection and Use of Antarctic Marine Biodiversity by Taking the BBNJ Process into Account

Areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) are covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans and are rich in biological diversity. These also include the Polar Regions, where marine organisms adapted to extreme environments and led to increased scientific interest and activities, including bioprospecting activities. As a result, marine biodiversity is increasingly threatened. Thus, the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was established to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity but left ABNJ and bioprospecting activities widely unregulated. In Antarctica, for instance, bioprospecting has raised concerns, and the matter has been discussed since 2002. As a result, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 69/292 concluded the establishment of a new international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity for ABNJ. However, the inclusion of the Antarctic Treaty Area remains unclear. In light of the current BBNJ negotiations, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) only acknowledges the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) as the appropriate framework to regulate these activities in Antarctica. Further, it seems to aim for regulation under the ATS, if at all. Therefore, this paper discusses a solution-based approach for possible regulation of the collection and use of Antarctic marine biodiversity. The negotiations and achievements of the current BBNJ process will be taken into account, as they might provide support for the regulation of these issues in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Bio-Prospecting Procedure of Sky-Hold Banana (Musa troglodytarum L.): Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Community in Maluku Islands, Indonesia

This study described the protocol implemented in bio-prospecting activities related to samples preparation and transfer of sky-hold banana (Musa troglodytarum L.) from Maluku islands Indonesia to the Netherlands, through collaboration among Faculty of Agriculture Pattimura University, PT Olop, Hila Kaytetu, Ambon Island, and Agrofair Company Barrendrecht, the Netherlands.

Bio-prospecting of Medicinal Bio-resources from the Kenyan Biodiversity: Reflections on Governance as the Missing Link - A Review Article

Medicinal biodiversity has since times immemorial served as one of the richest sources of bio-prospecting leading to the discovery of novel drugs for mankind globally. However, in Kenya, despite the Country being known to be a mega biodiversity hotspot, bio-prospecting has not been very successful mainly due to lack of effective institutional and legal frameworks. This article reviews the policy and legislation instruments governing medicinal biodiversity in Kenya in order to identify their weaknesses and strengths and come up with recommendations for effective economic exploitation of the Country’s’ mega diverse resource. The methodology employed was a qualitative content analysis of relevant biodiversity legislations in Kenya. Results reveal that there has been governance gaps as far as bio-prospecting activities in Kenya are concerned which has rendered the Country’s mega biodiversity vulnerable to bio-piracy at the expense of the poor local communities who are the traditional knowledge owners. There is need to review the current pieces of legislation on medicinal biodiversity and work towards developing a strong National bio-prospecting policy together with an implementation plan. These are important to inform the overall national development agenda, in tandem with Vision 2030. Some of the policies were found out dated and rather obsolete and not serving the current interests and ambitions of the Country. There is therefore a need to revisit the policy and legislative instruments because they will continue frustrating bio-prospecting activities. Moreover, we recommend the creation of a National Institute to coordinate and harmonize the legislations and National policies on medicinal biodiversity to seal loopholes, avoid conflicts and contradictions being experienced in the current legislative and policy frameworks. Keywords: Bio-prospecting; Bio-piracy; Governance; Kenya; Medicinal biodiversity DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/60-05 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

The communities that colonise the cold

The Polar Regions have excellent potential for bioprospecting because the microorganisms that live there have adapted to extreme environmental conditions; and these adaptations can be harnessed in a variety of biotechnological applications. In this study, we describe the community structure of a range of different cryospheric habitats to identify environments appropriate for specific bioprospecting activities. Samples were collected from Midtre Lovénbreen glacier and surrounds in Spitzbergen, Svalbard in late June to early July 2017. Many cryospheric environment types were sampled including air, snow, slush, meltwater, cryoconite, proglacial water, soil and seawater. DNA was extracted and prepared for 16S amplicon sequencing. Amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were assigned using DADA2 and contaminants were removed using the Decontam package in R. We searched the scientific literature for biotechnological applications of abundant community members in each environment. Each environment type displayed a unique community structure, with some physically linked environment types, like glacial snow, slush and meltwater showing continuity through space, and synchronised changes over time. The snow, slush and meltwater habitats were low in biomass and dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, with Cyanobacteria increasing in abundance as melt progressed. Cryoconite was dominated by Cyanobacteria, while sea water was dominated by Bacteriodetes, Gammaproteobacteria and Cyanobacteria. Soil was by far the most biodiverse habitat, with many phyla represented, and a large number of Actinobacteria suitable for antimicrobial discovery. Many of the current EPS, cold-active enzymes, fatty acids, antioxidants and antifreeze proteins are sourced from Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria, the most abundant phyla in this study.

What Do the Various Principles of Justice Mean Within the Concept of Benefit Sharing?

The concept of benefit sharing pertains to the act of giving something in return to the participants, communities, and the country that have participated in global health research or bioprospecting activities. One of the key concerns of benefit sharing is the ethical justifications or reasons to support the practice of the concept in global health research and bioprospecting. This article evaluates one of such ethical justifications and its meaning to benefit sharing, namely justice. We conducted a systematic review to map the various principles of justice that are linked to benefit sharing and analysed their meaning to the concept of benefit sharing. Five principles of justice (commutative, distributive, global, procedural, and compensatory) have been shown to be relevant in the nuances of benefit sharing in both global health research and bioprospecting. The review findings indicate that each of these principles of justice provides a different perspective for a different benefit sharing rationale. For example, commutative justice provides a benefit sharing rationale that is focused on fair exchange of benefits between research sponsors and communities. Distributive justice produces a benefit sharing rationale that is focused on improving the health needs of the vulnerable research communities. We have suggested that a good benefit sharing framework particularly in global health research would be more beneficial if it combines all the principles of justice in its formulation. Nonetheless, there is a need for empirical studies to examine the various principles of justice and their nuances in benefit sharing among stakeholders in global health research.

Running Head: Bioprospecting for Biomass Hydrolysing Fungi Bioprospecting for Superior Biomass Hydrolysing Fungi from Diverse Habitats

Bioprospecting activities tap vast sources of microbes from diverse and extreme habitats. Microbial hydrolases are important in the development of sustainable biomass energy or biofuels. To achieve full potential of this resource, there is a need to discover novel, unexploited microbes and their enzymes. So, a bioprospecting survey was conducted to identify fungal sources of biomass hydrolysing enzymes from different environments. Out of the total isolates, 39 were found to exhibit cellulolytic, hemicellulolytic and ligninolytic activities. Qualitative enzyme assays were performed using specific soluble substrates. Submerged fermentation of paddy straw/carrot grass (Parthenium hysterophorus) was then done to quantify the lignocellulolytic potential of all the isolates. The isolate CM20, identified to be Aspergillus terreus, was found to be a superior producer of cellulases and xylanases, while the isolate LG7, identified as Myrothecium roridum, was found to produce ligninolytic enzymes in high amounts. The study, therefore, resulted in the identification of cellulolytic and ligninolytic fungi which could be used in biorefineries for the development of greener energy.

Role of marine bioprospecting contracts in developing access and benefit sharing mechanism for marine traditional knowledge holders in the pharmaceutical industry

The remarkable growth of bio-based industry has led to a rapid increase in the bioprospecting activities. The marine biomes are a rich reservoir of unique life systems making them an attractive target for bioprospecting for identification and development of potential drug molecules for human therapeutics. Many of the drug molecules such as ara-c, trabecetidin and eribulin have been discovered from marine organisms. It is noteworthy that indigenous communities have developed, preserved as well as evolved the marine traditional knowledge from one generation to next. Pharmaceutical companies utilize marine life based traditional knowledge developed by the communities at various stages of drug development, unfortunately, many a times without having a mechanism of access and benefit sharing in place. One such example is the marine bioprospecting Fiji contract that illustrates the role played by Fijian community and the lacuna in access and benefit sharing mechanisms. The present study is an attempt to explore the mechanism of fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from use of marine bioresources with the local communities as marine traditional knowledge holders in marine areas. It briefly describes the various international conventions and protocols that emphasize on the development of fair and equitable benefit sharing mechanisms. The study proposes marine bioprospecting contracts that are based on mutually agreed terms among the key stakeholders (the State with the genetic resources, traditional knowledge holders and marine bioprospectors). Marine bioprospecting contracts eventually will need to be customized as per the legislation of a country because of territorial nature of law. Also, the marine bioprospecting contracts will differ from other bioprospecting contracts due to various unique parameters associated with the activity such as economics of deep sea explorations (expensive processes of exploration and sample extraction), continuous supply of sample, the jurisdiction of marine areas and traditional knowledge associated. The present study elucidates the concept of marine bioprospecting contracts by considering India as a case study emphasizing sharing of benefits with traditional knowledge holders as well as ensuring sustainable use of marine genetic resources by the pharmaceutical sector.

Bioprospecting in Colombia

Despite the evolution of international policy on bioprospecting, Colombian regulations on the matter stilllack uniformity with these international policies. Here we examine the effectiveness of Colombian policyon bioprospecting and its consonance with international guidelines and treaties. To this end, we requestedinformation from the environmental authorities regarding study permits issued for scientific research onbiodiversity and access granted to genetic resources. We also examined the number of research groups inColombia registered under national directives. We found that scientific bioprospecting has increased inthe last five years both in number of research groups (30%) and in the number of registered projects (8times); however, the number of undertakings does not match the number of permits issued, suggestinga margin of informality (70%) in the execution of these activities. For the State to fulfill its duty andpromote research in biodiversity, a change in policy must take place to remove the obstacles that hinderthe legalization of scientific bioprospecting activities.

Medico-floristic evaluation of medicinal plants at Meja, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

The present study deals with the enumeration of 52 medicinally important indigenous plants belonging to 31 families frequently used by local communities of Meja tehsil of Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh for the treatment of various diseases like skin diseases, diabetes, weakness, cold and cough, poison bites, diarrhea, asthma, fever, rheumatic pain, oral diseases, fracture, jaundice and tuberculosis etc. During the study, 98 persons (55 male and 43 females) were contacted to know about the indigenous plants used for medicinal purposes. This information need to be tested and validated for further bioprospecting and commercial activities.

The Use of Prior Informed Consent to Ensure a Fair and Equitable Access to Genetic Resources: A Comparative Study and Taiwan’s Response

There has been increasingly international awareness, mainly from developing countries, of mandating a proper control on illegal bio-prospecting of genetic resources during the past decade. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted in 1990s has been widely viewed as a powerful international mechanism in dealing with the issue mainly by requiring access to and benefit-sharing (ABS) regime in the national level. The prior informed consent (PIC) specified by the treaty constitutes a major means to deter the infamous unregulated bio-piracy and to ensure a fair access to genetic resources. Since the effectiveness of the CBD, national implementation of the ABS has been flourishing, shown in the enactment of laws and regulations. Given the differential social structure in individual nations, there seems no consistent pattern of the PIC practices domestically. Some legislatures recognize the decisive role of indigenous or local community in the context of enforcing PIC, making access to genetic resources impossible without their consent. On the other hand, to ensure the access process more effectively, several central governments dominate PIC process so as to make the will of local people relatively margin or simply to treat their determination only as one of the factors to be considered for the final decision of granting consent. This article aims to conduct a comparative study on how genetically rich nations implement the PIC requirement with a view to examining whether the genuine objective of the CBD has been fulfilled. The task involves an analysis of legal arrangements and implications in several leading models of legislature. Recently, Taiwan has started to sense the significance of regulating the bio-prospecting activities and to engage in formulating a draft thereafter. It thus will be a focal point of this article to evaluate the normative design of the PIC in such a law.

Patents on ice.

The article focuses on regulating bioprospecting activities in Antarctica. A patent and trademark office has yet to open its doors on McMurdo Sound or at Prydz Bay. But the microbes and fish that live in Antarctica and its environs have already become the subject of patent claims. The Spanish patent office granted a patent in 2002 for wound healing and other treatments with a glycoprotein drawn from the bacterium Pseudoalteromonas antarctica. Also that year Germany handed out a patent for a skin treatment using an extract from the green alga Prasiola crispa ssp.antarctica. And an application now before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covers a process for producing antifreeze peptides discovered in Antarctic bacteria. In all, it is estimated that more than 40 patents have been granted worldwide that rely on Antarctic flora and fauna, and the U.S. patent office has received in excess of 90 filings. These numbers are not large--and no commercial enterprise is engaged in industrial harvesting of the continent's biota. But drug companies bring in tens of billions of dollars every year from natural compounds or synthetic knockoffs inspired by them. Interest in developing pharmaceuticals from Antarctica's novel life-forms, extremophiles--which withstand cold, aridity and salinity--will continue to grow. Moreover, it is already a problem to figure out who is doing the collecting and for what purpose. Bioprospecting often involves consortia composed of public and private entities. Delineating where scientific research ends and commercial activity begins becomes a difficult task, notes a report from the U.N. University Institute of Advanced Studies entitled "The International Regime for Bioprospecting: Existing Policies and Emerging Issues for Antarctica."

Indigenous People Incorporated?

The ongoing debate over indigenous claims to intellectual and cultural property reveals a series of indigenous strategies of mobilization that both appropriate from and work against the logic of the market. Of particular significance in this regard are the various indigenous strategies used in contemporary pharmaceutical bioprospecting activities to address claims to traditional medical knowledge as cultural property. This article presents field data on a controversial ethnopharmaceutical project among the Aguaruna of Perus high forest and offers a comparative analysis of the outcomes with attention to several other cases in and beyond South America. In particular, questions are raised about the forms of legitimating authority in the burgeoning international indigenous movement, the role of NGOs, researchers, bureaucracies, and corporations in this process, and the dilemmas that emerge from the politicization and privatization of indigenous culture and identity.