Gelidium Crinale Research Articles

A report of a galactan from marine alga Gelidium crinale with in vivo anti‐inflammatory and antinociceptive effects

The sulfated galactan of the red marine alga Gelidium crinale (SG-Gc) was purified by ion exchange chromatography and tested by intravenous (i.v.) route in rodent experimental models of inflammation and nociception. The anti-inflammatory activity of SG-Gc (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg) was evaluated in the model of rat paw edema induced by different inflammatory stimuli, while SG-Gc (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg) antinociceptive effect was assessed in models of nociception/hyperalgesia elicited by chemical (formalin test), thermal (hot plate), and mechanical (von Frey) stimuli in mice. In addition, the toxicity was evaluated after rat treatment with SG-Gc (1 mg/kg; i.v.) during 10 days, followed by analysis of the wet weight of animal's body/organs and hematological/biochemical parameters. Sulfated galactan of G. crinale inhibited the time course of dextran-induced paw edema, at all doses, showing maximal effect at 1 mg/kg (42%) and that induced by carrageenan at 0.01 (18%) and 1 mg/kg (20%), but was ineffective on the edema elicited by zymosan. At the highest dose, SG-Gc also inhibited the paw edema induced by histamine (49%), compound 48/80 (32%), and phospholipase A(2) (44%). Sulfated galactan of G. crinale inhibited both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test, at all doses, and at 10 mg/kg, the animals flinch reaction in the von Frey test in the 1st and 3rd h by 19 and 26%, respectively. Additionally, SG-Gc treatment was well tolerated by animals. In conclusion, SG-Gc presents anti-inflammatory effect involving the inhibition of histamine and arachidonic acid metabolites and also antinociceptive activity, especially the inflammatory pain with participation of the opioid system.

β-Phenylethylamine content in marine algae around Turkish coasts

Abstract β-Phenylethylamine content was investigated in two green, five brown, and ten red marine algae by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. β-Phenylethylamine was found in six red algae but was not detected in the brown and green algae studied. The highest amount of β-phenylethylamine was determined in Gelidium crinale (30.42 μg g-1). This is the first report of β-phenylethylamine in the algae tested and also the first to quantify β-phenylethylamine in marine algae.

Effect of outdoor conditions on growth rate and chemical composition of Gelidium crinale in culture

A comprehensive study of the major environmental factors affecting growth and chemical composition of Gelidium crinale is presented here for the first time. The purpose of this study was to analyze the significance of the major growth factors and to formulate them into regression models. For this purpose summer and winter experiments were conducted in small aerated seawater tanks under various light and fertilizer conditions. The effects of carbon source, pH control and microelements were also tested. Finally, an annual growth experiment was conducted in order to support the two-season experiment. The major limiting seasonal factor was found to be temperature, which positively affected weekly growth rate, dry weight and gel strength, while negatively affecting the agar percentage. Ammonium was also revealed as a major limiting factor, positively affecting chlorophyll and protein concentrations, and negatively affecting carbohydrate concentration. Other growth factors, such as light intensity, pH, carbon source and microelements, were less- or non-effective, being already almost optimal under ambient conditions.

SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF MACROALGAE ALONG PORT SAID COAST, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, EGYPT

Seasonal variations in macroalgae community inhabiting Port Said coast were investigated during the period from summer 2004 to spring 2005. Species composition and percent cover of macroalgae were studied in four sites distributed along the coast, representing different habitats. Some hydrographic parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate and silicate) were measured to determine the water characteristics influencing the studied sites. The study revealed the presence of 55 species, of them, 17 species have not been recorded previously in this area. The macroalgae comprised 31 species of Rhodophyta, 21 species of Chlorophyta and 3 species of Phaeophyta. Of the recorded species, 16 species occurred as epiphytes; most of them belonging to Rhodophyta. The most abundant species were Cladophpora prolifera, Enteromorpha compressa, E. prolifera, E. flexuosa, E. intestinalis, E. ralfsii, Ulva fasciata and U. rigida from Chlorophyta, and Gelidium crinale and Hypnea cornuta from Rhodophyta. There were relatively seasonal and spatial differences in the distribution patterns of species composition and abundance. Autumn and summer were the most diversified seasons. Site I which was away from any effluent, rich and diversified flora were observed relative to the other sites, with the highest abundance especially in Rhodophyta. The influence of the brackish water of Lake Manzala was obvious on the vegetation at site IV and sometimes at site III.

Structure and anticoagulant activity of a sulfated galactan from the red alga, Gelidium crinale. Is there a specific structural requirement for the anticoagulant action?

Marine red algae are an abundant source of sulfated galactans with potent anticoagulant activity. However, the specific structural motifs that confer biological activity remain to be elucidated. We have now isolated and purified a sulfated galactan from the marine red alga, Gellidium crinale. The structure of this polysaccharide was determined using NMR spectroscopy. It is composed of the repeating structure -4-α-Gal p-(1→3)-β-Gal p1→ but with a variable sulfation pattern. Clearly 15% of the total α-units are 2,3-di-sulfated and another 55% are 2-sulfated. No evidence for the occurrence of 3,6-anhydro α-galactose units was observed in the NMR spectra. We also compared the anticoagulant activity of this sulfated galactan with a polysaccharide from the species, Botryocladia occidentalis, with a similar saccharide chain but with higher amounts of 2,3-di-sulfated α-units. The sulfated galactan from G. crinale has a lower anticoagulant activity on a clotting assay when compared with the polysaccharide from B. occidentalis. When tested in assays using specific proteases and coagulation inhibitors, these two galactans showed significant differences in their activity. They do not differ in thrombin inhibition mediated by antithrombin, but in assays where heparin cofactor II replaces antithrombin, the sulfated galactan from G. crinale requires a significantly higher concentration to achieve the same inhibitory effect as the polysaccharide from B. occidentalis. In contrast, when factor Xa instead of thrombin is used as the target protease, the sulfated galactan from G. crinale is a more potent anticoagulant. These observations suggest that the proportion and/or the distribution of 2,3-di-sulfated α-units along the galactan chain may be a critical structural motif to promote the interaction of the protease with specific protease and coagulation inhibitors.

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of the marine algal order Gelidiales (Rhodophyta) from New South Wales, including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands

Fifteen species in seven genera of the marine benthic red algal order Gelidiales are reported from the New South Wales coast including Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Critical sampling, a re-examination of herbarium specimens filed in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and the University of Melbourne, and molecular sequencing of most of the species has determined that many of the previous identifications from this region of the Pacific were incorrect. Gelidium pusillum (Stackhouse) Le Jolis, once widely reported from this coast, is shown not to occur here and the specimens on which these misidentifications were made have proved to represent either new species or previously described species. Similarly, records of Gelidium australe J. Agardh have been found to represent misidentification of the formerly New Zealand endemic Gelidium allanii V.J.Chapman, and specimens identified as Gelidium caulacantheum J. Agardh actually represent the new species Gelidium hommersandii sp. nov. Previously recorded species verified in this study are Capreolia implexa Guiry & Womersley, Gelidiella acerosa (Forsskål) Feldmann & G.Hamel, Gelidium maidenii Lucas, Pterocladia lucida (Turner) J. Agardh, Pterocladiella caerulescens (Kützing) Santelices & Hommersand [as Pterocladia caerulescens (Kützing) Santelices], Pterocladiella capillacea (Gmelin) Santelices & Hommersand [as Pterocladia capillacea (Gmelin) Bornet], and Ptilophora pectinata (A. & E.S. Gepp) R.E.Norris. These species are described and illustrated in detail along with previously unreported reproductive structures. Three species are newly recorded for the New South Wales mainland [Parviphycus antipae Celan, Gelidium crinale (Turner) Gaillon, and Pterocladiella caloglossoides (Howe) Santelices], and two species (Gelidium isabelae W.R.Taylor and Gelidium allanii V.J.Chapman) represent new records for the Australian continent. In addition, three new species are described: Gelidium bernabei sp. nov., Gelidium declerckii sp. nov., and Gelidium hommersandii sp. nov.

Research note: Characterization of a cDNA encoding glutamine synthetase II from Gelidium crinale (Rhodophyta)

SUMMARY A cDNA encoding glutamine synthetase (GS) was characterized from the red alga, Gelidium crinale (Turner) Gaillon, using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and the 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Sequence analysis of a 1231-bp GS cDNA transcript included both 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions and a 1056-bp open reading frame encoding a 352 amino acid polypeptide. Comparison with GS sequences from other organisms revealed that the G. crinale cDNA encodes a type-II GS, and the absence of a N-terminal plastid signal sequence suggests that it is a cytosolic isoenzyme. Phylogenetic analyses of GSII amino acid sequences supports the multiple origin of cytosolic and plastid isoenzymes during eukaryotic evolution.

Marine algae from the Gulf of Santa Clara, Sonora, México

Four sites in the Gulf of Santa Clara, northwestern coast of Sonora, Mexico, were sampled seasonally during 1995–1996. A total of 43 species of marine algae were determined, which are recorded for the first time for the area of study. The families with best representation are: Gracilariaceae and Cladophoraceae, each with 5 species; and Corallinaceae, Rhodomelaceae, and Ulvaceae, each with 3. The highest diversity was found in autumn, the lowest in summer. The sites with the low diversity were Piedras del Burro with 7 species and El Tornillal with 18. These places are broad beaches, composed of sand and with few pebbles. The higher diversity was found at Punta Gorda with 34 species and Piedras de La Salina with 26. These localities are characterized by relatively stable rocky substrates, with some intertidal pools. The most common species regardless to distribution and occurrence over time were: Spyridia filamentosa, Dictyota flabellata, Struveopsis robusta, Cladophora microcladioides and Enteromorpha linza. Rosenvingea antillarum and Cladophora vagabunda represent new records for the Gulf of California. Nine epiphytic species were identified, which were frequently observed on Gelidium crinale, Spyridia filamentosa and Dictyota flabellata.

Spatial Variation in an Algal Turf Community with Respect to Substratum Slope and Wave Height

A mid-shore colonial algal turf community is described. Samples were analysed to determine if species composition, invertebrate epiphyte density, algal mat biomass, and the amount of sediment trapped among algal thalli differed with respect to substratum slope and wave height.Colonial algal turf was approximately 1–3 cm in height and predominantly composed of a mixture of four species of eurythermal red algae, including Gelidium crinale (Turner) Lamouroux (Rhodophyceae: Gelidiales), Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne, Polysiphonia denudata (Dillwyn) Kuetzing, and Bryocladia cuspidata (J. Agardh) De Toni (Rhodophyceae: Ceramiales). More delicate algae and algal epiphytes were found at stations with lower mean wave height, while non-epiphytic coralline algae were found only at stations with higher mean wave height. Algal mat mass was significantly greater on horizontal slopes than on vertical slopes, but did not differ with respect to wave-height levels. Algal mats trapped significantly more sediment on horizontal slopes with lower mean wave height.Densities of the three most abundant invertebrate epiphytes appeared to be related to sediment deposition. Like sedimentation patterns, disparities in population densities on different substratum slopes increased with lower mean wave height. The highest densities of the amphipods Elasmopus rapax Costa and Hyale frequens Haswell (Crustacea: Peracarida) occurred on horizontal slopes at stations with significantly lower mean wave height. The highest densities of the tree oyster Isognomon bicolor C.B. Adams (Mollusca: Pterioida) were on vertical slopes at stations with significantly lower mean wave height. Barnacle epiphytes occurred in higher densities at stations receiving greater mean wave height, while dominant species of other crustaceans and molluscs had higher densities at stations with significantly lower mean wave height.

Gelidiaceae (Rhodophyta) from the northern Gulf of California, Mexico

Abstract Extensive recent collections of Gelidiaceae (Rhodophyta) from the northern Gulf of California, Mexico were studied. Comparisons of field-collected and laboratory-grown thalli support the merger of Pterocladia parva Dawson with P. caloglossoides (Howe) Dawson. Gelidium microphysa Setchell & Gardner was found to be a form of G. pusillum (Stackh.) Le Jolis. Gelidium crinale (Turn.) Gaillon ex Desmazieres, including Gulf specimens previously identified as G. crinale var. luxurians Collins, is here considered as a form of G. pusillum, in concurrence with a recent treatment of these taxa in Great Britain. Relatively well defined morphology and bilocular cystocarps clearly distinguish G. johnstonii Setchell & Gardner from other Gulf species. Cystocarps have not been found on thalli of G. sonorense Dawson and G. decompositum Setchell & Gardner, both known only from the Gulf. On the basis of vegetative characters these two species are referred to Pterocladia capillacea (Gmel.) Bornet & Thuret, a species t...