Mediterranean Coast Of Alexandria Research Articles

Characterization and biological applications of gonadal extract of Paracentrotus lividus collected along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria, Egypt.

Marine invertebrates represent a valuable reservoir of pharmaceutical bioactive compounds with potential relevance to various medical applications. These compounds exhibit notable advantages when compared to their terrestrial counterparts, in terms of their potency, activity, and mechanism of action. Within this context, the present work aimed to extract, chemically characterize, and investigate the bioactivity of the gonadal extract of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (P. lividus) collected along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Fractions of the gonadal extract were characterized by Spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their bioactivities were investigated in vitro. The analysis supported the extract richness of carotenoids and bioactive compounds. The extract showed promising anticancer activity against three different breast cancer cell lines with different levels of aggressiveness and causative factors, namely MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453, and HCC-1954. Gene expression analysis using RT-qPCR showed that P. lividus extract inhibited the expression of crucial factors involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. In addition, the extract significantly inhibited the lipo-polysaccharides (LPS) induced inflammation in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and exerted anti-bacterial activity against the Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Collectively, these results demonstrated the chemical richness and the wide-scale applicability of P. lividus gonadal extract as an anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory natural extract.

Assessment of Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals and Their Ecological Risk in Sea Lettuce (Ulva spp.) along the Coast Alexandria, Egypt: Implications for Sustainable Management

The pollution of aquatic ecosystems is an issue facing many countries all over the world and may result in issues such as eutrophication in coastal zones. Managing this eutrophication is a real challenge. The current study focuses on the investigation and identification of aquatic environmental characteristics, including the sediments, waters, and seaweed, of seven eutrophicated locations along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria (Egypt). Different ecological risk assessment and bioaccumulation factors were calculated in order to identify the probable pollution source and the degree of the problem, in addition to the accumulation of heavy metals in the seaweed. The characteristics of the seaweed, sediments, and waters were chemically analyzed and heavy metals were measured. The genetically and biochemically identified seaweed species were Ulva compressa, Ulva fasciata, Ulva lactuca and Ulva linzea. The sediments of the El-Tabia location contained the highest concentrations of Cd, Co, Ni, and Pb, because this location receives these elements from the El-Amia drain. The Abu Qir location was found to contain the highest concentrations of the same heavy metals in the studied water samples because it was located much closer to the Abu Qir harbor. Ecological risk assessment indices indicated moderate to high contamination for most of the studied elements and locations. The results of the bioaccumulation factor analysis indicated that the studied seaweed species are accumulators of trace elements. These seaweed species should be further investigated concerning ecotoxicology if they are to be used in the human diet and for other benefits. This study opens many windows of research to be investigated in the future regarding the sustainable management of polluted coastal zones.

Age and Growth of the Common Sole , Solea Solea from the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast of Alexandria

Age and Growth of the Common Sole , Solea Solea from the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast of Alexandria

ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ON BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA, ABU-QIR BAY, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

The present study examines the foraminiferal distribution in recent bottom sediments of Abu-Qir Bay located along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Abu-Qir Bay receives substantial amounts of heavy metals from the surrounding industrial area, as well as agricultural and domestic effluents, which makes it one of the most polluted areas along the Mediterranean coast. Information provided by the benthic foraminiferal associations was integrated with geochemical, sedimentological, and water data to characterize the environments. The benthic foraminifera are recognized as potential indicators of pollution in coastal marine environments. Surface sediment samples were collected in two seasons (May and November) from nine sites. Cluster analysis and Canonical Correspondances Analysis reveal a distinct boundary that separates two areas; the more-polluted stations nearshore, and the less-polluted stations offshore The first area is characterized by sediment with high silt and clay content and rich in total organic carbon, and bottom water with relatively high temperatures, but low in dissolved oxygen, salinity, transparency, and pH. Its foraminiferal fauna is dominated by Ammonia tepida, Quinqueloculina lata , and Porosononion spp., which are species considered as pollution opportunists. The second area is characterized by coarser sediment overlain by bottom waters high in dissolved oxygen, and transparent, saline, cold water, and is dominated mainly by Quinqueloculina vulgaris, Elphidium spp., Asterigerinata mamilla, Rosalina macropora, Ammonia beccarii, Triloculina trigonula, Peneroplis pertusus , and Quinqueloculina spp. Heavy-metal pollutants have a deleterious effect on benthic foraminifera that results in reduced population diversity, increased dominance, and deformed tests.

Speciation of organotin compounds in sediments of semi-closed areas along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria

Organotin compounds were measured in sediments of four different semi-closed areas of the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria: the Eastern Harbour, Western Harbour, El-Max Bay, and Abu-Qir Bay. Due to the commercial trade activity inside the Western Harbour, in addition to the effect of wastes discharged from El Noubaria canal, it shows the highest concentrations of total tin (6.34 μg g−1 dry weight), dibutyl tin (1.63 μg g−1 wet weight), tributyl tin (0.33 μg g−1 wet weight) and diphenyl tin (1.06 μg g−1 wet weight) compared with other locations. The concentrations of TBT species showed the highest contents compared with DBT and DPhT compounds in all sampling areas. This trend might be due to the worldwide use of TBT not only as biocides in antifouling paints but also as preserving agents for wood, fungicides in agricultural activities, and heat and UV stabilizers of PVC, which results in a direct release of TBT into the water body, accumulation in aquatic fauna. There is also precipitation into sediments and a decrease in degradation rate into its derivatives. Variations, types, concentrations, and distribution of different organotin compounds are discussed in the areas under investigation. The study reveals a new record of organotin compounds along the Alexandria coast and makes comparisons with other surrounding areas of interest.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages and morphological abnormalities as pollution proxies in two Egyptian bays

A detailed comparative study of Recent benthic foraminiferal populations was conducted at two bays (El-Mex and Miami) located along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Nine samples from each bay were studied and a total of 78 benthic foraminiferal species belonging to 19 families were identified. Porcellaneous forms were dominant, comprising 65% and 68% of the total population in El-Mex and Miami bays, respectively. El-Mex is one of the most metal-polluted areas along the Alexandrian coast. It is contaminated by industrial wastes, chiefly heavy metals, as well as agricultural and domestic effluents. Increasing pollution results in low species diversity and population density, associated with an increase in tolerant or opportunistic species. The extent to which population was found to be impoverished corresponded to the degree to which the sediment was contaminated. In this contaminated environment, foraminiferal tests were stunted and aberrant tests were frequently found. Species diversity and population density were higher in Miami Bay (domestic sewage) and deformed forms were scarce. X-ray microanalysis reveals that living deformed specimens contain higher levels of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Cd) than non-deformed ones. This strongly suggests that heavy metals are responsible for the abnormalities in foraminiferal tests. The study illustrates that the mode of test deformation depends upon the degree of pollution and type of pollutants. Benthic foraminifera reflect human-induced environmental perturbation and they can be used as bioindicators for monitoring coastal pollution.

Occurrence of the Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium Catenatum (Graham) Along the Mediterranean Coast of Alexandria (Egypt)

A monitoring programme during 4 years (1993-1996) was established in four eutrophic marine basins along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria (Egypt) to follow the occurrence of a newly recorded dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum and ambient environmental conditions. the species achieved its massive occurrence in warm seasons at low salinity, density stratified water column and different nutrient concentrations. A simple statistical approach showed temperature and phosphate to effect its distribution. Apparently no cases of toxic effect have accompanied the occurrence of G. catenatum. the regular occurrence of the species during the 4 year survey mean the existence of its benthic resting cysts, which certainly have important implications for its distribution dynamics.

Beachrock cementation in Alexandria, Egypt

Beachrock is found in the intertidal and sublittoral zones along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria, Egypt. It occurs as beds or patches and shows several stages of cementation and hardness. The seaward dip of the beachrock is similar to that of the slope of the foreshore. The fabric shows micrite and fringe cement types, aragonite was not identified in the beachrock at Alexandria. The average concentrations of Ca, Mg, Sr, Fe and Mn in the beachrock are similar to those of the beach deposits. The process of beachrock cementation in Alexandria is rather recent and typically marine.