Next Issue
Volume 14, November
Previous Issue
Volume 14, September
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.6
4.9
Journals
Marine Drugs
Volume 14
Issue 10
share announcement

Mar. Drugs, Volume 14, Issue 10 (October 2016) – 23 articles

  • Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
  • You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
  • PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.
Order results
Result details
Section
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
3038 KiB  
Communication
Degree of Suppression of Mouse Myoblast Cell Line C2C12 Differentiation Varies According to Chondroitin Sulfate Subtype
by Katsuhiko Warita, Nana Oshima, Naoko Takeda-Okuda, Jun-ichi Tamura and Yoshinao Z. Hosaka
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100193 - 21 Oct 2016
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5825
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS), a type of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), is a factor involved in the suppression of myogenic differentiation. CS comprises two repeating sugars and has different subtypes depending on the position and number of bonded sulfate groups. However, the effect of each subtype [...] Read more.
Chondroitin sulfate (CS), a type of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), is a factor involved in the suppression of myogenic differentiation. CS comprises two repeating sugars and has different subtypes depending on the position and number of bonded sulfate groups. However, the effect of each subtype on myogenic differentiation remains unclear. In this study, we spiked cultures of C2C12 myoblasts, cells which are capable of undergoing skeletal muscle differentiation, with one of five types of CS (CS-A, -B, -C, -D, or -E) and induced differentiation over a fixed time. After immunostaining of the formed myotubes with an anti-MHC antibody, we counted the number of nuclei in the myotubes and then calculated the fusion index (FI) as a measure of myotube differentiation. The FI values of all the CS-treated groups were lower than the FI value of the control group, especially the group treated with CS-E, which displayed notable suppression of myotube formation. To confirm that the sugar chain in CS-E is important in the suppression of differentiation, chondroitinase ABC (ChABC), which catabolizes CS, was added to the media. The addition of ChABC led to the degradation of CS-E, and neutralized the suppression of myotube formation by CS-E. Collectively, it can be concluded that the degree of suppression of differentiation depends on the subtype of CS and that CS-E strongly suppresses myogenic differentiation. We conclude that the CS sugar chain has inhibitory action against myoblast cell fusion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Bioactive Compounds from Marine Invertebrates)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

6374 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Gelatin-Based Electrospun Composite Fibers for Anti-Bacterial Properties and Protein Adsorption
by Ya Gao, Yingbo Wang, Yimin Wang and Wenguo Cui
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100192 - 21 Oct 2016
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7904
Abstract
A major goal of biomimetics is the development of chemical compositions and structures that simulate the extracellular matrix. In this study, gelatin-based electrospun composite fibrous membranes were prepared by electrospinning to generate bone scaffold materials. The gelatin-based multicomponent composite fibers were fabricated using [...] Read more.
A major goal of biomimetics is the development of chemical compositions and structures that simulate the extracellular matrix. In this study, gelatin-based electrospun composite fibrous membranes were prepared by electrospinning to generate bone scaffold materials. The gelatin-based multicomponent composite fibers were fabricated using co-electrospinning, and the composite fibers of chitosan (CS), gelatin (Gel), hydroxyapatite (HA), and graphene oxide (GO) were successfully fabricated for multi-function characteristics of biomimetic scaffolds. The effect of component concentration on composite fiber morphology, antibacterial properties, and protein adsorption were investigated. Composite fibers exhibited effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The study observed that the composite fibers have higher adsorption capacities of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at pH 5.32–6.00 than at pH 3.90–4.50 or 7.35. The protein adsorption on the surface of the composite fiber increased as the initial BSA concentration increased. The surface of the composite reached adsorption equilibrium at 20 min. These results have specific applications for the development of bone scaffold materials, and broad implications in the field of tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Chitin and Chitosan II, 2017)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

271 KiB  
Review
Extracellular Metabolites from Industrial Microalgae and Their Biotechnological Potential
by Lu Liu, Georg Pohnert and Dong Wei
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100191 - 20 Oct 2016
Cited by 148 | Viewed by 12072
Abstract
Industrial microalgae, as a big family of promising producers of renewable biomass feedstock, have been commercially exploited for functional food, living feed and feed additives, high-value chemicals in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and chemical reagents. Recently, microalgae have also been considered as a group that [...] Read more.
Industrial microalgae, as a big family of promising producers of renewable biomass feedstock, have been commercially exploited for functional food, living feed and feed additives, high-value chemicals in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and chemical reagents. Recently, microalgae have also been considered as a group that might play an important role in biofuel development and environmental protection. Almost all current products of industrial microalgae are derived from their biomass; however, large amounts of spent cell-free media are available from mass cultivation that is mostly unexploited. In this contribution we discuss that these media, which may contain a remarkable diversity of bioactive substances are worthy to be recovered for further use. Obviously, the extracellular metabolites from industrial microalgae have long been neglected in the development of production methods for valuable metabolites. With the advances in the last ten years, more and more structures and properties from extracellular metabolites have been identified, and the potential utilization over wide fields is attracting attention. Some of these extracellular metabolites can be potentially used as drugs, antioxidants, growth regulators or metal chelators. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the known extracellular metabolites from industrial microalgae which might be of commercial interest. The attention mainly focuses on the reports of extracellular bioactive metabolites and their potential application in biotechnology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plankton)
1034 KiB  
Article
Different Culture Metabolites of the Red Sea Fungus Fusarium equiseti Optimize the Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4A Protease (HCV PR)
by Usama W. Hawas, Radwan Al-Farawati, Lamia T. Abou El-Kassem and Adnan J. Turki
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100190 - 20 Oct 2016
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5897
Abstract
The endophytic fungus Fusarium equiseti was isolated from the brown alga Padina pavonica, collected from the Red Sea. The fungus was identified by its morphology and 18S rDNA. Cultivation of this fungal strain in biomalt-peptone medium led to isolation of 12 known [...] Read more.
The endophytic fungus Fusarium equiseti was isolated from the brown alga Padina pavonica, collected from the Red Sea. The fungus was identified by its morphology and 18S rDNA. Cultivation of this fungal strain in biomalt-peptone medium led to isolation of 12 known metabolites of diketopeprazines and anthraquinones. The organic extract and isolated compounds were screened for their inhibition of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease (HCV PR). As a result, the fungal metabolites showed inhibition of HCV protease (IC50 from 19 to 77 μM), and the fungus was subjected to culture on Czapek’s (Cz) media, with a yield of nine metabolites with potent HCV protease inhibition ranging from IC50 10 to 37 μM. The Cz culture extract exhibited high-level inhibition of HCV protease (IC50 27.6 μg/mL) compared to the biomalt culture extract (IC50 56 μg/mL), and the most potent HCV PR isolated compound (Griseoxanthone C, IC50 19.8 μM) from the bio-malt culture extract showed less of an inhibitory effect compared to isolated ω-hydroxyemodin (IC50 10.7 μM) from the optimized Cz culture extract. Both HCV PR active inhibitors ω-hydroxyemodin and griseoxanthone C were considered as the lowest selective safe constituents against Trypsin inhibitory effect with IC50 48.5 and 51.3 μM, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enzyme Inhibitors of Marine Origin)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

811 KiB  
Article
Three New Cytotoxic Polyhydroxysteroidal Glycosides from Starfish Craspidaster hesperus
by Jun-Xia Kang, Yong-Feng Kang and Hua Han
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100189 - 19 Oct 2016
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5716
Abstract
Three new polyhydroxysteroidal glycosides, hesperuside A (1), B (2), and C (3), as well as a known novaeguinoside A (4), were isolated from the ethanol extract of starfish Craspidaster hesperus collected from the South China [...] Read more.
Three new polyhydroxysteroidal glycosides, hesperuside A (1), B (2), and C (3), as well as a known novaeguinoside A (4), were isolated from the ethanol extract of starfish Craspidaster hesperus collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence. The compounds 1–3 present unprecedented carbohydrate chain 3-O-methyl-β-d-galactopyranose, which differ from each other in the side chains. These compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against human tumor cells BEL-7402, MOLT-4, and A-549 in vitro. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Bioactive Compounds from Marine Invertebrates)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

1392 KiB  
Article
MDN-0170, a New Napyradiomycin from Streptomyces sp. Strain CA-271078
by Rodney Lacret, Ignacio Pérez-Victoria, Daniel Oves-Costales, Mercedes De la Cruz, Elizabeth Domingo, Jesús Martín, Caridad Díaz, Francisca Vicente, Olga Genilloud and Fernando Reyes
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100188 - 18 Oct 2016
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7352
Abstract
A new napyradiomycin, MDN-0170 (1), was isolated from the culture broth of the marine-derived actinomycete strain CA-271078, together with three known related compounds identified as 4-dehydro-4a-dechloronapyradiomycin A1 (2), napyradiomycin A1 (3) and 3-chloro-6,8-dihydroxy-8-α-lapachone (4). The [...] Read more.
A new napyradiomycin, MDN-0170 (1), was isolated from the culture broth of the marine-derived actinomycete strain CA-271078, together with three known related compounds identified as 4-dehydro-4a-dechloronapyradiomycin A1 (2), napyradiomycin A1 (3) and 3-chloro-6,8-dihydroxy-8-α-lapachone (4). The structure of the new compound was determined using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and electrospray-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS). The relative configuration of compound 1, which contains two independent stereoclusters, has been established by molecular modelling in combination with nOe and coupling constant analyses. Biosynthetic arguments also allowed us to propose its absolute stereochemistry. The antimicrobial properties of the compounds isolated were evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans. The potent bioactivity previously reported for compounds 2 and 3 against methicillin-sensitive S. aureus has been extended to methicillin-resistant strains in this report. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Organohalides)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

3915 KiB  
Article
Neuroprotective Effect of the Marine-Derived Compound 11-Dehydrosinulariolide through DJ-1-Related Pathway in In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Parkinson’s Disease
by Chien-Wei Feng, Han-Chun Hung, Shi-Ying Huang, Chun-Hong Chen, Yun-Ru Chen, Chun-Yu Chen, San-Nan Yang, Hui-Min David Wang, Ping-Jyun Sung, Jyh-Horng Sheu, Kuan-Hao Tsui, Wu-Fu Chen and Zhi-Hong Wen
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100187 - 17 Oct 2016
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7100
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait impairment. In a previous study, we found that the marine-derived compound 11-dehydrosinulariolide (11-de) upregulates the Akt/PI3K pathway to protect cells against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-mediated damage. In the present study, SH-SY5Y, [...] Read more.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait impairment. In a previous study, we found that the marine-derived compound 11-dehydrosinulariolide (11-de) upregulates the Akt/PI3K pathway to protect cells against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-mediated damage. In the present study, SH-SY5Y, zebrafish and rats were used to examine the therapeutic effect of 11-de. The results revealed the mechanism by which 11-de exerts its therapeutic effect: the compound increases cytosolic or mitochondrial DJ-1 expression, and then activates the downstream Akt/PI3K, p-CREB, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. Additionally, we found that 11-de could reverse the 6-OHDA-induced downregulation of total swimming distance in a zebrafish model of PD. Using a rat model of PD, we showed that a 6-OHDA-induced increase in the number of turns, and increased time spent by rats on the beam, could be reversed by 11-de treatment. Lastly, we showed that 6-OHDA-induced attenuation in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a dopaminergic neuronal marker, in zebrafish and rat models of PD could also be reversed by treatment with 11-de. Moreover, the patterns of DJ-1 expression observed in this study in the zebrafish and rat models of PD corroborated the trend noted in previous in vitro studies. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

3241 KiB  
Article
Purification of Antioxidant Peptides by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry from Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion Hydrolysates of Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) Skin Collagen
by Liping Sun, Weidan Chang, Qingyu Ma and Yongliang Zhuang
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100186 - 17 Oct 2016
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7653
Abstract
In this study, the stable collagen hydrolysate was prepared by alcalase hydrolysis and twice simulated gastrointestinal digestion from Alaska pollock skin. The characteristics of hydrolysates and antioxidant activities in vitro, including 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS•+) scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power [...] Read more.
In this study, the stable collagen hydrolysate was prepared by alcalase hydrolysis and twice simulated gastrointestinal digestion from Alaska pollock skin. The characteristics of hydrolysates and antioxidant activities in vitro, including 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS•+) scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and hydroxyl radical (OH·) scavenging activity, were determined. After twice simulated gastrointestinal digestion of skin collagen (SGI-2), the degree of hydrolysis (DH) reached 26.17%. The main molecular weight fractions of SGI-2 were 1026.26 and 640.53 Da, accounting for 59.49% and 18.34%, respectively. Amino acid composition analysis showed that SGI-2 had high content of total hydrophobic amino acid (307.98/1000). With the simulated gastrointestinal digestion progressing, the antioxidant activities increased significantly (p < 0.05). SGI-2 was further purified by gel filtration chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography, and the A1a3c–p fraction with high hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 7.63 μg/mL) was obtained. The molecular weights and amino acid sequences of key peptides of A1a3c–p were analyzed using high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) combined with de novo software and UniProt of MaxQuant software. Four peptides were identified from A1a3c–p, including YGCC (444.1137 Da) and DSSCSG (554.1642 Da) identified by de novo software and NNAEYYK (900.3978 Da) and PAGNVR (612.3344 Da) identified by UniProt of MaxQuant software. The molecular weights and amino acid sequences of four peptides were in accordance with the features of antioxidant peptides. The results indicated that different peptides were identified by different data analysis software according to spectrometry mass data. Considering the complexity of LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, it was necessary to use the different methods to identify the key peptides from protein hydrolysates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Proteins and Peptides)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2673 KiB  
Article
Identification of a Pro-Angiogenic Potential and Cellular Uptake Mechanism of a LMW Highly Sulfated Fraction of Fucoidan from Ascophyllum nodosum
by Nicolas Marinval, Pierre Saboural, Oualid Haddad, Murielle Maire, Kevin Bassand, Frederic Geinguenaud, Nadia Djaker, Khadija Ben Akrout, Marc Lamy de la Chapelle, Romain Robert, Olivier Oudar, Erwan Guyot, Christelle Laguillier-Morizot, Angela Sutton, Cedric Chauvierre, Frederic Chaubet, Nathalie Charnaux and Hanna Hlawaty
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100185 - 17 Oct 2016
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 7469
Abstract
Herein we investigate the structure/function relationships of fucoidans from Ascophyllum nodosum to analyze their pro-angiogenic effect and cellular uptake in native and glycosaminoglycan-free (GAG-free) human endothelial cells (HUVECs). Fucoidans are marine sulfated polysaccharides, which act as glycosaminoglycans mimetics. We hypothesized that the size [...] Read more.
Herein we investigate the structure/function relationships of fucoidans from Ascophyllum nodosum to analyze their pro-angiogenic effect and cellular uptake in native and glycosaminoglycan-free (GAG-free) human endothelial cells (HUVECs). Fucoidans are marine sulfated polysaccharides, which act as glycosaminoglycans mimetics. We hypothesized that the size and sulfation rate of fucoidans influence their ability to induce pro-angiogenic processes independently of GAGs. We collected two fractions of fucoidans, Low and Medium Molecular Weight Fucoidan (LMWF and MMWF, respectively) by size exclusion chromatography and characterized their composition (sulfate, fucose and uronic acid) by colorimetric measurement and Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. The high affinities of fractionated fucoidans to heparin binding proteins were confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance. We evidenced that LMWF has a higher pro-angiogenic (2D-angiogenesis on Matrigel) and pro-migratory (Boyden chamber) potential on HUVECs, compared to MMWF. Interestingly, in a GAG-free HUVECs model, LMWF kept a pro-angiogenic potential. Finally, to evaluate the association of LMWF-induced biological effects and its cellular uptake, we analyzed by confocal microscopy the GAGs involvement in the internalization of a fluorescent LMWF. The fluorescent LMWF was mainly internalized through HUVEC clathrin-dependent endocytosis in which GAGs were partially involved. In conclusion, a better characterization of the relationships between the fucoidan structure and its pro-angiogenic potential in GAG-free endothelial cells was required to identify an adapted fucoidan to enhance vascular repair in ischemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Marine Polysaccharides)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

858 KiB  
Communication
A New Dioic Acid from a wbl Gene Mutant of Deepsea-Derived Streptomyces somaliensis SCSIO ZH66
by Huiming Huang, Huayue Li, Yanhong Qiu, Lukuan Hou, Jianhua Ju and Wenli Li
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100184 - 17 Oct 2016
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5310
Abstract
The wblAso gene functions as a global regulatory gene in a negative manner in deepsea-derived Streptomyces somaliensis SCSIO ZH66. A new dioic acid (1) as well as two known butenolides (2 and 3) were isolated from the ΔwblA [...] Read more.
The wblAso gene functions as a global regulatory gene in a negative manner in deepsea-derived Streptomyces somaliensis SCSIO ZH66. A new dioic acid (1) as well as two known butenolides (2 and 3) were isolated from the ΔwblAso mutant strain of S. somaliensis SCSIO ZH66. The structure of 1 was elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses, including MS and NMR techniques. In the cell growth inhibitory evaluation, compound 3 exhibited moderate activity against the human hepatic carcinoma cell line (Huh7.5) with an IC50 value of 19.4 μg/mL, while compounds 1 and 2 showed null activity up to 100 μg/mL. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

2041 KiB  
Article
Conversion of Squid Pen to Homogentisic Acid via Paenibacillus sp. TKU036 and the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Homogentisic Acid
by San-Lang Wang, Hsin-Ting Li, Li-Jie Zhang, Zhi-Hu Lin and Yao-Haur Kuo
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100183 - 12 Oct 2016
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6929
Abstract
The culture supernatant of Paenibacillus sp. TKU036, a bacterium isolated from Taiwanese soils, showed high antioxidant activity (85%) when cultured in a squid pen powder (SPP)-containing medium at 37 °C for three days. Homogentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, HGA) was isolated and found to [...] Read more.
The culture supernatant of Paenibacillus sp. TKU036, a bacterium isolated from Taiwanese soils, showed high antioxidant activity (85%) when cultured in a squid pen powder (SPP)-containing medium at 37 °C for three days. Homogentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, HGA) was isolated and found to be the major antioxidant in the culture supernatant of the SPP-containing medium fermented by Paenibacillus sp. TKU036. Tryptophan was also present in the culture supernatant. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting showed that HGA and tryptophan were produced via fermentation but did not pre-exist in the unfermented SPP-containing medium. Neither HGA nor tryptophan was found in the culture supernatants obtained from the fermentation of nutrient broth or other chitinous material, i.e., medium containing shrimp head powder, by Paenibacillus sp. TKU036. The production of HGA via microorganisms has rarely been reported. In this study, we found that squid pen was a potential carbon and nitrogen source for Paenibacillus sp. Tryptophan (105 mg/L) and HGA (60 mg/L) were recovered from the culture supernatant. The isolated HGA was found to have higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 6.9 μg/mL) than α-tocopherol (IC50 = 17.6 μg/mL). The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated HGA (IC50 = 10.14 μg/mL) was lower than that of quercetin (IC50 = 1.14 μg/mL). As a result, squid pen, a fishery processing byproduct, is a valuable material for the production of tryptophan and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory HGA via microbial conversion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Chitin and Chitosan II, 2017)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

4293 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of VEGF165-Chitosan Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Radiation-Induced Skin Injury in Rats
by Daojiang Yu, Shan Li, Shuai Wang, Xiujie Li, Minsheng Zhu, Shai Huang, Li Sun, Yongsheng Zhang, Yanli Liu and Shouli Wang
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100182 - 11 Oct 2016
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6112
Abstract
Radiation-induced skin injury, which remains a serious concern in radiation therapy, is currently believed to be the result of vascular endothelial cell injury and apoptosis. Here, we established a model of acute radiation-induced skin injury and compared the effect of different vascular growth [...] Read more.
Radiation-induced skin injury, which remains a serious concern in radiation therapy, is currently believed to be the result of vascular endothelial cell injury and apoptosis. Here, we established a model of acute radiation-induced skin injury and compared the effect of different vascular growth factors on skin healing by observing the changes of microcirculation and cell apoptosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was more effective at inhibiting apoptosis and preventing injury progression than other factors. A new strategy for improving the bioavailability of vascular growth factors was developed by loading VEGF with chitosan nanoparticles. The VEGF-chitosan nanoparticles showed a protective effect on vascular endothelial cells, improved the local microcirculation, and delayed the development of radioactive skin damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Chitin and Chitosan II, 2017)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

804 KiB  
Article
New Metabolites and Bioactive Actinomycins from Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp. ZZ338
by Xiufang Zhang, Xuewei Ye, Weiyun Chai, Xiao-Yuan Lian and Zhizhen Zhang
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100181 - 11 Oct 2016
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6627
Abstract
An extract prepared from the culture of a marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. ZZ338 was found to have significant antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. A chemical investigation of this active extract resulted in the isolation of three known bioactive actinomycins (1–3) [...] Read more.
An extract prepared from the culture of a marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. ZZ338 was found to have significant antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. A chemical investigation of this active extract resulted in the isolation of three known bioactive actinomycins (1–3) and two new metabolites (4 and 5). The structures of the isolated compounds were identified as actinomycins D (1), V (2), X0β (3), 2-acetylamino-3-hydroxyl-4-methyl-benzoic acid methyl ester (4), and N-1S-(4-methylaminophenylmethyl)-2-oxo-propyl acetamide (5) based on their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) data as well as their optical rotation. This class of new compound 5 had never before been found from a natural resource. Three known actinomycins showed activities in inhibiting the proliferation of glioma cells and the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans and are responsible for the activity of the crude extract. Actinomycin D (1) was also found to downregulate several glioma metabolic enzymes of glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and lipogenesis, suggesting that targeting multiple tumor metabolic regulators might be a new anti-glioma mechanism of actinomycin D. This is the first report of such a possible mechanism for the class of actinomycins. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

1500 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Steroids from the Formosan Soft Coral Umbellulifera petasites
by Chiung-Yao Huang, Che-Wei Chang, Yen-Ju Tseng, Jessica Lee, Ping-Jyun Sung, Jui-Hsin Su, Tsong-Long Hwang, Chang-Feng Dai, Hui-Chun Wang and Jyh-Horng Sheu
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100180 - 11 Oct 2016
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6080
Abstract
Three new steroids, petasitosterones A and B (1 and 2) and a spirosteroid petasitosterone C (3), along with eight known steroids (4–11), were isolated from a Formosan marine soft coral Umbellulifera petasites. The structures [...] Read more.
Three new steroids, petasitosterones A and B (1 and 2) and a spirosteroid petasitosterone C (3), along with eight known steroids (4–11), were isolated from a Formosan marine soft coral Umbellulifera petasites. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of spectroscopic data with those reported. Compound 3 is a marine steroid with a rarely found A/B spiro[4,5]decane ring system. Compounds 1–3 and 5 displayed inhibitory activity against the proliferation of a limited panel of cancer cell lines, whereas 2 and 5 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production. The inhibitory activities for superoxide anion generation and elastase release of compounds 1–11 were also examined to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential, and 2–4 were shown to exhibit significant activities. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2633 KiB  
Article
Erylusamides: Novel Atypical Glycolipids from Erylus cf. deficiens
by Helena Gaspar, Adele Cutignano, Laura Grauso, Nuno Neng, Vasco Cachatra, Angelo Fontana, Joana Xavier, Marta Cerejo, Helena Vieira and Susana Santos
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100179 - 11 Oct 2016
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6175
Abstract
Among marine organisms, sponges are the richest sources of pharmacologically-active compounds. Stemming from a previous lead discovery program that gathered a comprehensive library of organic extracts of marine sponges from the off-shore region of Portugal, crude extracts of Erylus cf. deficiens collected [...] Read more.
Among marine organisms, sponges are the richest sources of pharmacologically-active compounds. Stemming from a previous lead discovery program that gathered a comprehensive library of organic extracts of marine sponges from the off-shore region of Portugal, crude extracts of Erylus cf. deficiens collected in the Gorringe Bank (Atlantic Ocean) were tested in the innovative high throughput screening (HTS) assay for inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and showed activity. Bioassay guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract led to the isolation of four new glycolipids, named erylusamide A–D. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and chemical derivatization. The metabolites shared a pentasaccharide moiety constituted by unusual highly acetylated ᴅ-glucose moieties as well as ᴅ-xylose and ᴅ-galactose. The aglycones were unprecedented long chain dihydroxyketo amides. Erylusamides A, B and D differ in the length of the hydrocarbon chain, while erylusamide C is a structural isomer of erylusamide B. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep-Sea Natural Products)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11147 KiB  
Review
Residues Responsible for the Selectivity of α-Conotoxins for Ac-AChBP or nAChRs
by Bo Lin, Shihua Xiang and Mengsen Li
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100173 - 11 Oct 2016
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5956
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are targets for developing new drugs to treat severe pain, nicotine addiction, Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, etc. α-Conotoxins are biologically and chemically diverse. With 12–19 residues and two disulfides, they can be specifically selected for different nAChRs. Acetylcholine-binding proteins from [...] Read more.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are targets for developing new drugs to treat severe pain, nicotine addiction, Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, etc. α-Conotoxins are biologically and chemically diverse. With 12–19 residues and two disulfides, they can be specifically selected for different nAChRs. Acetylcholine-binding proteins from Aplysia californica (Ac-AChBP) are homologous to the ligand-binding domains of nAChRs and pharmacologically similar. X-ray structures of the α-conotoxin in complex with Ac-AChBP in addition to computer modeling have helped to determine the binding site of the important residues of α-conotoxin and its affinity for nAChR subtypes. Here, we present the various α-conotoxin residues that are selective for Ac-AChBP or nAChRs by comparing the structures of α-conotoxins in complex with Ac-AChBP and by modeling α-conotoxins in complex with nAChRs. The knowledge of these binding sites will assist in the discovery and design of more potent and selective α-conotoxins as drug leads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Techniques in Natural Products Drug Discovery)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

1781 KiB  
Article
Dihydroisocoumarins from the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Penicillium citrinum
by Guo-Lei Huang, Xue-Ming Zhou, Meng Bai, Yu-Xin Liu, Yan-Lei Zhao, You-Ping Luo, Yan-Yan Niu, Cai-Juan Zheng and Guang-Ying Chen
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100177 - 10 Oct 2016
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6149
Abstract
Three new dihydroisocoumarin penicimarins G–I (1–3), together with one known dihydroisocoumarin (4) and three known meroterpenoids (5–7), were obtained from a fungus Penicillium citrinum isolated from the mangrove Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala collected [...] Read more.
Three new dihydroisocoumarin penicimarins G–I (1–3), together with one known dihydroisocoumarin (4) and three known meroterpenoids (5–7), were obtained from a fungus Penicillium citrinum isolated from the mangrove Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala collected in the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by the detailed analysis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu Kα radiation. The absolute configurations of 2 and 3 were determined by comparison of their circular dichroism (CD) spectra with the literature. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities and cytotoxic activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fungal Natural Products)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

127 KiB  
Editorial
Promise from the Sea
by George Perry
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100178 - 9 Oct 2016
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4151
Abstract
The twenty-first century’s greatestmedical challenge is degenerative disease. [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Compounds and Their Application in Neurological Disorders)
1918 KiB  
Article
Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory and Anti-Hypertensive Effect of Protein Hydrolysate from Actinopyga lecanora (Sea Cucumber) in Rats
by Mahdokht Sadegh Vishkaei, Afshin Ebrahimpour, Azizah Abdul-Hamid, Amin Ismail and Nazamid Saari
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100176 - 30 Sep 2016
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 8306
Abstract
Food protein hydrolysates are known to exhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties and can be used as a novel functional food for prevention of hypertension. This study evaluated the ACE inhibitory potentials of Actinopyga lecanora proteolysate (ALP) in vivo. The pre-fed rats [...] Read more.
Food protein hydrolysates are known to exhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties and can be used as a novel functional food for prevention of hypertension. This study evaluated the ACE inhibitory potentials of Actinopyga lecanora proteolysate (ALP) in vivo. The pre-fed rats with ALP at various doses (200, 400, 800 mg/kg body weight) exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.05) suppression effect after inducing hypertension. To determine the optimum effective dose that will produce maximal reduction in blood pressure, ALP at three doses was fed to the rats after inducing hypertension. The results showed that the 800 mg/kg body weight dose significantly reduced blood pressure without noticeable negative physiological effect. In addition, there were no observable changes in the rats’ heart rate after oral administration of the ALP. It was concluded that Actinopyga lecanora proteolysate could potentially be used for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals for prevention and treatment of hypertension. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Bioactive Compounds from Marine Invertebrates)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

3027 KiB  
Article
Controlling Properties and Cytotoxicity of Chitosan Nanocapsules by Chemical Grafting
by Laura De Matteis, Maria Alleva, Inés Serrano-Sevilla, Sonia García-Embid, Grazyna Stepien, María Moros and Jesús M. De la Fuente
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100175 - 30 Sep 2016
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7447
Abstract
The tunability of the properties of chitosan-based carriers opens new ways for the application of drugs with low water-stability or high adverse effects. In this work, the combination of a nanoemulsion with a chitosan hydrogel coating and the following poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) [...] Read more.
The tunability of the properties of chitosan-based carriers opens new ways for the application of drugs with low water-stability or high adverse effects. In this work, the combination of a nanoemulsion with a chitosan hydrogel coating and the following poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafting is proven to be a promising strategy to obtain a flexible and versatile nanocarrier with an improved stability. Thanks to chitosan amino groups, a new easy and reproducible method to obtain nanocapsule grafting with PEG has been developed in this work, allowing a very good control and tunability of the properties of nanocapsule surface. Two different PEG densities of coverage are studied and the nanocapsule systems obtained are characterized at all steps of the optimization in terms of diameter, Z potential and surface charge (amino group analysis). Results obtained are compatible with a conformation of PEG molecules laying adsorbed on nanoparticle surface after covalent linking through their amino terminal moiety. An improvement in nanocapsule stability in physiological medium is observed with the highest PEG coverage density obtained. Cytotoxicity tests also demonstrate that grafting with PEG is an effective strategy to modulate the cytotoxicity of developed nanocapsules. Such results indicate the suitability of chitosan as protective coating for future studies oriented toward drug delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Chitin and Chitosan II, 2017)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13829 KiB  
Article
Novel Spray Dried Glycerol 2-Phosphate Cross-Linked Chitosan Microparticulate Vaginal Delivery System—Development, Characterization and Cytotoxicity Studies
by Emilia Szymańska, Marta Szekalska, Robert Czarnomysy, Zoran Lavrič, Stane Srčič, Wojciech Miltyk and Katarzyna Winnicka
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100174 - 28 Sep 2016
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6448
Abstract
Chitosan microparticulate delivery systems containing clotrimazole were prepared by a spray drying technique using glycerol 2-phosphate as an ion cross-linker. The impact of a cross-linking ratio on microparticle characteristics was evaluated. Drug-free and drug-loaded unmodified or ion cross-linked chitosan microparticles were examined for [...] Read more.
Chitosan microparticulate delivery systems containing clotrimazole were prepared by a spray drying technique using glycerol 2-phosphate as an ion cross-linker. The impact of a cross-linking ratio on microparticle characteristics was evaluated. Drug-free and drug-loaded unmodified or ion cross-linked chitosan microparticles were examined for the in vitro cytotoxicity in VK2/E6E7 human vaginal epithelial cells. The presence of glycerol 2-phosphate influenced drug loading and encapsulation efficacy in chitosan microparticles. By increasing the cross-linking ratio, the microparticles with lower diameter, moisture content and smoother surface were observed. Mucoadhesive studies displayed that all formulations possessed mucoadhesive properties. The in vitro release profile of clotrimazole was found to alter considerably by changing the glycerol 2-phosphate/chitosan ratio. Results from cytotoxicity studies showed occurrence of apoptotic cells in the presence of chitosan and ion cross-linked chitosan microparticles, followed by a loss of membrane potential suggesting that cell death might go through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Chitin and Chitosan II, 2017)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

1510 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Chaetoglobosins from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Penicillium chrysogenum
by Song Huang, Haiyan Chen, Wensheng Li, Xinwei Zhu, Weijia Ding and Chunyuan Li
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100172 - 27 Sep 2016
Cited by 72 | Viewed by 7286
Abstract
A novel chaetoglobosin named penochalasin I (1) with a unprecedented six-cyclic 6/5/6/5/6/13 fused ring system, and another new chaetoglobosin named penochalasin J (2), along with chaetoglobosins G, F, C, A, E, armochaetoglobosin I, and cytoglobosin C (3– [...] Read more.
A novel chaetoglobosin named penochalasin I (1) with a unprecedented six-cyclic 6/5/6/5/6/13 fused ring system, and another new chaetoglobosin named penochalasin J (2), along with chaetoglobosins G, F, C, A, E, armochaetoglobosin I, and cytoglobosin C (3–9) were isolated from the culture of Penicillium chrysogenum V11. Their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and high resolution mass spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by comparing the theoretical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation with the experimental CD. Compound 1 was the first example, with a six-cyclic fused ring system formed by the connection of C-5 and C-2′ of the chaetoglobosin class. Compounds 5–8 remarkably inhibited the plant pathogenic fungus R. solani (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) = 11.79–23.66 μM), and compounds 2, 6, and 7 greatly inhibited C. gloeosporioides (MICs = 23.58–47.35 μM), showing an antifungal activity higher than that of carbendazim. Compound 1 exhibited marked cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-435 and SGC-7901 cells (IC50 < 10 μM), and compounds 6 and 9 showed potent cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 and A549 cells (IC50 < 10 μM). Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2417 KiB  
Review
Marine Microbiological Enzymes: Studies with Multiple Strategies and Prospects
by Yan Wang, Qinghao Song and Xiao-Hua Zhang
Mar. Drugs 2016, 14(10), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/md14100171 - 22 Sep 2016
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7269
Abstract
Marine microorganisms produce a series of promising enzymes that have been widely used or are potentially valuable for our daily life. Both classic and newly developed biochemistry technologies have been broadly used to study marine and terrestrial microbiological enzymes. In this brief review, [...] Read more.
Marine microorganisms produce a series of promising enzymes that have been widely used or are potentially valuable for our daily life. Both classic and newly developed biochemistry technologies have been broadly used to study marine and terrestrial microbiological enzymes. In this brief review, we provide a research update and prospects regarding regulatory mechanisms and related strategies of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) lactonase, which is an important but largely unexplored enzyme. We also detail the status and catalytic mechanism of the main types of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes that broadly exist among marine microorganisms but have been poorly explored. In order to facilitate understanding, the regulatory and synthetic biology strategies of terrestrial microorganisms are also mentioned in comparison. We anticipate that this review will provide an outline of multiple strategies for promising marine microbial enzymes and open new avenues for the exploration, engineering and application of various enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Proteins and Peptides)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-23
Previous Issue
Next Issue
Back to TopTop