Nostoc Commune Vaucher Research Articles

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of a low molecular weight polysaccharide from Nostoc commune Vaucher and its structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity

In the current study, a novel crude polysaccharide (cNCEP) was extracted from N. commune Vaucher utilizing ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) with 60 % ethanol, employing response surface methodology. The optimal yield of cNCEP was determined to be 8.07 ± 0.08 mg/g, achieved through ultrasonic-assisted extraction under the conditions of a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:22, temperature of 56 °C, power of 570 W, and duration of 147 min. Subsequent purification of NCEP via Sephadex G75 resulted in a novel polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 20.466 kDa. NCEP exhibited significant scavenging activites against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, as well as notable in vitro immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects of NCEP, involving enhancement of immunity, were investigated, revealing potential regulation of MAPK and TLR4-IRF7-NF-κB signaling pathways through RNA-Seq and Western blot analyses. These findings highlight the promising potential of NCEP as an organic immunomodulatory agent and functional food ingredient.

Effect of Nostoc commune cover on shallow soil moisture, runoff and erosion in the subtropics

Nostoc commune (Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Born & Flahault) is widely distributed in grasslands within the subtropical region. Because of its morphological changes are more sensitive to moisture, it may affect the soil’s response to infiltration-runoff processes, thus significantly influencing soil moisture dynamics, runoff, and soil loss. However, the exact effects of this phenomenon are not yet fully understood. This study established a one-year monitoring experiment of soil moisture, runoff and soil erosion in the karst area of Southwest China from September 2021 to November 2022. Using bare soil (CK) as the control, two treatments of Nostoc commune cover at 100 % coverage (C1) and 50 % coverage (C2) were set up in 3 repetitions to investigate the shallow soil’s response to Nostoc commune cover and rainfall and to quantify the effects of land cover and rainfall type on runoff and soil loss. The results showed that Nostoc commune cover significantly increased the shallow-soil water content, and the effect of increasing soil water content was more significant with increasing coverage. The cumulative soil water increment (CSWI) varied greatly under different types of rainfall due to the high water-absorbing capacity of Nostoc commune. The CSWI showed C1 < C2 < CK under light rain and moderate rain events, while the CSWI showed C1 > C2 > CK under heavy rain and rainstorm events. The temporal pattern of soil moisture changed greatly under different cover treatments and rainfall events. In particular, the response time under different rainfall types varied from 10 min to 250 min. The runoff depth and soil loss in CK were 1.19–2.15 times and 1.92–14.43 times that of C1 and C2, respectively. This indicates that Nostoc commune cover has a significant effect on controlling runoff and soil erosion. In addition, the sensitivity of runoff and soil loss to the maximum 10-min rainfall intensity was higher than that of the maximum 30-min rainfall intensity, which was attributed to the rapid swelling of Nostoc commune in the hydration process, which greatly reduced runoff and soil erosion. This study can contribute to further understanding the hydrological process and soil erosion characteristics under different surface covers in humid karst areas.

Ethnobotany of wild edible plants in multiethnic areas of the Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia junction zone

IntroductionIn recent years, research on wild edible plant resources has become increasingly popular. The Hassan Nature Reserve is a multiethnic area mainly composed of people belonging to the Han, Hui, and Mongolian groups. The utilization of edible wild plant resources in this area is extremely high. However, with the advancement of urbanization and the development of modern agricultural technology, these resources have been seriously damaged, and related traditional knowledge, such as that related to national medicine, has been lost.MethodsBased on a literature study, interviews with village and community organizations, participatory observation, and quantitative evaluation of ethnobotanical resources, wild edible plants in the Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia junction zone, were investigated.ResultsThe survey results showed that there were 53 species (varieties) of wild edible plants belonging to 24 families in this area. The Compositae and Liliaceae families were the most abundant, with 8 and 7 species, respectively. The young stems and leaves were the most edible parts of the plants, as observed for 17 species, followed by fruits (including young fruits), which were considered the edible part of 16 species. Other edible parts included the roots or rhizomes (bulbs), seeds, whole plants, skins, etc. The edible plants were consumed in two forms: raw and cooked; raw plants, mainly fruit, were typically consumed as snacks. The cooked foods mainly consisted of vegetables, with tender stems and leaves as the main food source. These components were also used as seasoning, in medicinal diets, and as an emergency food source in times of famine. Important (CFSI > 500) wild edible plants used in health care in the region include Mulgedium tataricum (L.) DC., Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault, Sonchus arvensis L., Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Allium schoenoprasum L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Hemerocallis citrina Baroni, Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Medicago sativa L., Ulmus pumila L., Stachys sieboldii Miq., and Toona sinensis (Juss.) M. Roem., and these plants had high utilization values and rates locally.ConclusionIn summary, the species of wild edible plants and their edible parts, categories, consumption forms and roles in health care in this area are diverse. The utilization of traditional knowledge is rich, and some wild plants have high development value.

Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in the mountain-tundra ecosystems of the northern regions of the Urals (diversity, functional characteristics)

In biological soil crusts (BSC) of mountain tundras of three northern regions of the Urals, 131 species of cyanobacteria from 46 genera were identified. Nitrogen fixers make up about 40% of the total diversity. The complex of dominants is formed by representatives of the genera Nostoc, Stigonema, Scytonema. Based on the study of the nitrogen-fixing activity of biological crusts dominated by cyanobacteria, two groups were distinguished: those with high and low rates of nitrogen fixation. High rates of nitrogen fixation, on average 3.17 mg C2H4 m-2h-1, are typical for BSC dominated by Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Bornet &amp; Flahault or Stigonema ocellatum Thuret ex Bornet &amp; Flahault, low rates, on average 1.01 mg C2H4 m-2h-1, for BC dominated by Stigonema minutum Hassall ex Bornet et Flahault. It has been shown that the nitrogen fixation of the studied BSCs depends to a greater extent on the composition of the dominant cyanobacteria species in soil crusts than on the geographic zone in which the samples were collected.

Unravelling the photoprotective effects of freshwater alga Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Bornet et Flahault against ultraviolet radiations.

Several studies have suggested the direct relationship between skin complications, air pollution, and UV irradiation. UVB radiations cause various skin complications such as skin aging, skin inflammation, and skin cancer. The current study is designed to develop an ultraviolet (UV) absorbing MAA-loaded topical gel and to evaluate its UVA and UVB screening potential. MAA was extracted from the Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Bornet et Flahault (N. commune) and characterized by HPLC-PDA (with a retention time 2.6 min), UV-Visible (absorption maximum 334 nm), and mass spectrometry (m/z 346.2) techniques. The methanolic (10%) solution of MAA (50-150 μl) was dissolved in propylene glycol and mixed with hydrated gel (1.5 % of carbopol 934) by using EDTA (0.3%). Eight (F1-F8) formulations were evaluated for their physico-chemical characters. F7 retained its physio-chemical characters for 90 days. Further selected formulation (F7) was evaluated for its gelling strength (GSg), gelling temperature (GT), melting temperature (MT), apparent viscosity (cp), molecular mass (MMS), pH, physical appearance, homogeneity, and spreading diameter (SD). The stability study of the fabricated gel formulation was done as per International Committee on Harmonization guidelines and sunscreen potential was determined by in vitro sunscreen UV method. Findings revealed that GSg (337 ± 1.7 g/cm2), GT (22.8 ± 0.2 °C), cp (71.1 ± 0.2), MMS (424.177 ± 0.7), pH (6.2 ± 0.04), and SD (56 ± 0.2). For in vitro sunscreen potential determination, different concentrations of F7 (50-150 μl) were prepared. Topical application of the F7 displayed UV-A/UV-B photoprotection with SPF 1.13 folds greater then marketed formulation (Lotus herbals UV screen gel). Based on these findings, it was concluded that methanolic extract derived from N. commune contains Porphyra-334 which can be potentially used as photo protective compound in several cosmetic preparations. Development of sunscreen gel from Nostoc commune The current investigation is designed to develop ultraviolet (UV) absorbing MAA (mycosporine amino acid)-loaded topical gel from Nostoc commune to evaluate its UVA and UVB screening potential. LCMS characterization of HPLC-PDA purified MAA from N. commune methanolic extract demonstrated a prominent ion peak of a protonated molecule ([M + H]+) at m/z 346.2 [M+H]+ value confirmed the presence of Porphyra-334. Porphyra-334 is a broad-spectrum sun-protective compound evidenced for its potential in blocking UVA and UVB (Bhatia et al. 2010). Prepared sunscreen formulations remain stable for prolonged period and provide broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV range.

Preparation, characterization and wound healing effect of alginate/chitosan microcapsules loaded with polysaccharides from Nostoc Commune Vaucher

Biologically active coating materials could promote the growth of granulation tissue as auxiliary materials, while natural polysaccharides could promote vascular regeneration and wound healing. Therefore, in this study, ultrasound-assisted extract of Nostoc commune Vaucher polysaccharides (UAP) yield after the process optimization was 12.89 ± 0.24%, which was used to prepare microcapsules by emulsification and cross-linking. The effect of alginate/chitosan-UAP composite materials on wound healing in an experimental rat model for 14 d and its physical properties were evaluated. In vitro experiments indicated that the UAP microcapsule material had a porous and loose three-dimensional network structure, and had good biocompatibility and swelling properties as a wound healing material. Animal experiments indicated that UAP microcapsules could extremely significantly promote wound healing (P < 0.01), and wound closure rate reached 79.16 ± 3.91% on 14th day. Meanwhile UAP microcapsules might promote angiogenesis and granulation growth by enhancing immunity and increasing the expression of VEGF and miR-21. Therefore, the composites of UAP microcapsules have shown encouraging results as a potential dressing for wound healing.

Polysaccharides from Nostoc commune Vaucher activate macrophages via NF-κB and AKT/JNK1/2 pathways to suppress colorectal cancer growth in vivo.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is an aggressive malignancy with very limited therapeutic options. As a result, both morbidity and mortality of this malignancy are very high. It is well-established that Nostoc commune Vaucher is a type of healthy food and has been used as a traditional medicine against human cancers. However, the underlying mechanism(s) by which Nostoc commune Vaucher inhibits CRC was never described. Here we reported that polysaccharides from Nostoc commune Vaucher are a potent inhibitor of CRC growth by activating macrophages. Specifically, we purified polysaccharides from Nostoc commune and two fractions of these polysaccharides are able to inhibit the proliferation and growth of five human CRC cell lines with divergent genetic backgrounds. Through activating NF-κB and AKT/JNK1/2 signaling pathways, one fraction of polysaccharides significantly activated macrophages, which was reflected by the enlarged size of macrophages, enhanced phagocytosis and expression of TNF-α and IL-1β. In summary, this study demonstrated that the polysaccharides from Nostoc commune Vaucher are a potent activator of macrophages, which subsequently contributes to the inhibition of CRC.

Polysaccharides isolated from Nostoc commune Vaucher inhibit colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice and modulate gut microbiota.

Accumulating evidences have reported that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of colorectal cancer. Commonly known as a kind of constituent macromolecules, non-digestible polysaccharides have always been fermented by the intestinal microbiota. Nostoc commune Vaucher (N. commune) has always been appreciated as a healthy food and supplementation worldwide as it is rich in nutrients. Particularly, polysaccharides account for 60% of the dry weight of N. commune. In this study, we examined the protective effects of the polysaccharides isolated from N. commune (NVPS) against colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice treated with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) and the impact of these polysaccharides on the intestinal microbiota. NVPS were administered to mice through an intragastric gavage for 14 weeks. Our results demonstrated that the treatment with NVPS significantly decreased the number and sizes of tumors and reduced the incidence of intestinal tumors. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qPCR, we analyzed the bacterial composition of the fecal samples obtained from mice. The results demonstrated that the alterations in the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes caused by the AOM/DSS treatment were significantly reversed in response to the NVPS treatment. Moreover, the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera, including butyric acid-producing genera (Butyricicoccus, Butyrivibrio and Butyricimonas) and acetic acid-producing genera (Lachnospiraceae UCG 001, Lachnospiraceae UCG 006, and Blautia), were drastically enriched following the NVPS intervention. These compositional alterations induced by the NVPS were associated with the suppressed colonic inflammation and carcinogenesis. In conclusion, our results demonstrated an appreciable capability of NVPS to restore the gut microbiota profile altered by AOM/DSS, indicating the potential of NVPS as a promising prebiotic candidate for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Influence of led red-light intensity on phycocyanin accumulation in the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune Vaucher

To assess the effects of light intensity on the phycocyanin of Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Nostoc commune Vaucher, which was isolated from Maetang District, Chiangmai Province, Thailand. The algae was cultivated in laboratory under different red light LED (LD) intensity of, 10, 20, 30, 100 and 120 µmol m -2 s -1 . The medium using BG 11 modified without N source. Results Biomass as fresh weight and dry weight, %Dry weights, protein, and Phycocyanin contents were fluctuation in difference light intensity. The highest biomass as fresh weight have shown in LD 30 with the value of 9.24 g.L -1 and the lowest was at LD10 with the value of 2.56 g.L -1 and as dry weight was maximum at LD120 with 0.21 g.L -1 and minimum was 0.07 g.L -1 at LD10. %Dry weights was found the maximum value at LD120 with 3.51% and lowest at LD 30 with the value of 1.8%. Protein content have shown the highest value at LD30 with 1.8%. Protein was high present at LD10 with the value of 1.00 + 0.12 mg.L -1 and low value at LD100 with 0.79 + 0.09 mg.L -1 . The Red light intensity of 30 µmol m -2 s -1 was resulted in phycocyanin higher values than other intensities with the value of 0.32 + 0.09 mg.L -1 and lowest concentration at LD120 with the value of 0.17 + 0.01 mg.L -1 . Conclusion LED Red light at 30 µmol m -2 s -1 were optimal for phycocyanin accumulation in Nostoc commune Vaucher.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF FOUR NOSTOC SPECIES ISOLATED FROM DESERT SOILS

Kubecková, K.1, Johansen, J. R.1, Li X.2 &amp; Vincent, J.1 1Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118 USA; 2Botany Department, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 USAFour strains of Nostoc were isolated and characterized with regards to morphology and life cycle. Three strains were isolated from microbiotic soil crusts in the Mojave Desert of Southern California, and one strain was isolated from the lichen Collema tenax from crusts in Canyonlands National Park. All four strains were found to be morphologically distinct, with differences in: macrocolony appearance, microcolony shape and size, density of trichomes within the microcolony, and hormogonia production. The most commonly reported species from desert soils is Nostoc commune Vaucher. However, our strains all differ from that taxon in the size and shape of akinetes and heterocysts. Collema tenax is reported to have Nostoc commune as its phycobiont, but our observations on the phycobiont indicate that it is very distinct from that species and other Nostoc we have observed in desert soils. We subsequently sequenced a partial sequence of the 16SrRNA gene and the associated internal transcribed spacer (ITS) between the 16SrRNA and 23SrRNA genes for all four strains. Evidence of three multiple rRNA operons each was recovered for two strains, based upon configuration and sequence differences in the ITS regions. ITS with the following configurations were observed: no tRNA genes, tRNAIle and tRNAAla genes, and the beginning portion of tRNAIle immediately followed by the end portion of tRNAAla. Although our strains appear distinct from the descriptions of species in Geitler (1932) and Starmach (1966), further molecular characterization of species in this genus is probably warranted before they are assigned to existing or new species.

Perforation patterns in the peptidoglycan wall of filamentous cyanobacteria

Ultrastructural studies were made on seven genera of filamentous cyanobacteria from Sections III and IV (in the Rippka classification): Oscillatoria limosa Ag. ex Gomont, Spirulina subsalsa Turp. ex Gomont, Crinalium epipsammum Crow, Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Born. et Flah., Anabaena variabilis Kützinger ex Born. et Flah., Arthrospira maxima Stizenb. ex Gomont, Arthrospira platensis Stizenb. ex Gomont, and Cyanospira rippkae Florenzano. Perforation types and their distribution in the peptidoglycan layer observed in Crinalium epipsammum Crow were similar to those in Oscillatoria limosa and two Arthrospira strains. In Cyanospira and Anabaena no junctional perforations in the peptidoglycan wall layer were observed; however, intracellular perforations were documented. Except for Spirulina, the perforations were organized in rows (up to 10) placed on both sides of the cross wall. In the Spirulina cross sections, perforations were found only in the thickened, inner part of the cell wall. The perforation patterns in Spirulina and Arthrospira strains were clearly different and justify the separation into different genera.

Seasonal variation in nitrogen fixation by Nostoc commune Vaucher at the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica

Studies of in situ nitrogen fixation by the blue-green alga Nostoc, measured by acetylene reduction, were conducted over a 12 month period at the ice-free Vestfold Hills, Antarctica (68°34′S, 77°57...

AGGREGATION OF SOIL PARTICLES BY ALGAE1

SUMMARY Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick (Indiana University Number 252), Nostoc commune Vaucher (I.U. 584), and Oscillatoria prolifica (Grev.) Gomont (I.U. 1270) were grown separately on Peoria loess soil material to measure their effects on the water stability of soil aggregates. Each alga significantly (10% LSD) increased the percentage of soil aggregates after 6 weeks of incubation as compared with the soil without algae. Oscillatoria, Chlorella, and Nostoc increased water stability of aggregates &gt;74 μ in diameter by 3.4, 1.1, and 0.6%, respectively. Nostoc and Oscillatoria produced measurable water stable aggregates in the 1000–2000 μ diameter range; Chlorella formed them in the 500–1000 μ range, while the control soil showed no aggregates &gt;295 μ.

A taxonomic account on the phytoplankton of a pond receiving textile industrial effluents

Phytoplankton from four stations of a large pond receiving effluents from two textile industries have been investigated. A total of 69 taxa were identified out of which 48 belonged to Chlorophyceae followed by 17 to Cyanophyceae. One species from each of Chrysophyceae, Xanthophyceae, Cryptophyceae and Dinophyceae were also recorded. Oscillatoria limnetica Lemm., Anabaena circinalis Rabenh. ex Born. et Flah., Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Born. et Flah. Ankistrodesmus falcatus var. mirabilis (West &amp; West) Lemm. and Scendesmus spp. were found dominant in all the stations.Keywords: Industrial effluents, Phytoplankton, Taxonomy DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v15i2.1742 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 15(2): 129-139, 2008 (December)