Search Results (16)

Jania rubens (J. rubens), a Mediterranean red seaweed, is rich in bioactive compounds with potential medicinal applications. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of Lebanese J. rubens through in vitro evaluation of its anti-diabetic, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemolytic activities. Various extracts were prepared and characterized using GC-MS and HPLC. Biological activities were assessed through α-amylase inhibition assays, effects on prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, anti-inflammatory activity and anti-hemolytic activity. Significant α-amylase inhibition was observed with dichloromethane/methanol and lipid extracts, comparable to acarbose. All types of extracts prolonged PT and PTT, with the lipid extract showing the strongest effect at higher concentrations. Additionally, dichloromethane/methanol extracts exhibited potent anti-hemolytic activity. Moreover, all extracts showed strong anti-inflammatory activity, achieving levels of inhibition of heat-induced BSA denaturation comparable to diclofenac. Characterization revealed 11 amino acids in the protein extracts, and significant fatty acids in the lipid profile. The crude extracts contained diverse compounds, including flavonoids, aldehydes, diterpenoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and sterol esters, which may contribute to the observed biological activities. These results highlight J. rubens as a potential reservoir of bioactive compounds with promising in vitro activities related to diabetes, thrombotic disorders, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Further research is needed to isolate the active compounds, validate their efficacy in vivo, assess safety, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article

Quantitative measurement of macroalgal thallus morphology and its link with epifaunal communities remains largely unexplored in the central Mediterranean. This paper explores the link between thallus morphology and the associated mobile epifaunal assemblages of three common macroalgae native to the Maltese Islands (central Mediterranean Sea): Ellisolandia elongata, Jania rubens, and Dictyota spp. (D. dichotoma, D. mediterranea, and D. fasciola in mixed assemblages). We hypothesised that macroalgal species exhibiting distinct morphological characteristics support mobile epifaunal assemblages that differ significantly in structure and composition. Using a full factorial framework, macroalgal beds dominated by each target species were sampled from shallow water in three localities on the northeastern coast of Malta, using SCUBA diving. Dry biomass and fractal dimensions were used to characterise the distinct morphological traits of the three macroalgal species. A total of 85 epifaunal taxa were associated with Dictyota spp., 98 taxa with E. elongata, and 112 taxa with J. rubens. Excluding the disproportionately abundant invasive foraminiferan Amphistegina lobifera, 911 individuals were recorded on E. elongata, 1224 on Dictyota spp., and 2233 on J. rubens. Of the 152 taxa identified across all macroalgae studied, Arthropoda (44 taxa) and Mollusca (39 taxa) dominated, with individuals occupying the small inter-frond spaces as shelters that provide refuge from predators and hydrodynamic stress. Multivariate analysis revealed that the structure and composition of mobile epifaunal assemblages were associated with the interaction between macroalgal morphology and site-specific environmental conditions. The more structurally complex, articulated, calcified, and densely branched forms of E. elongata and J. rubens supported more varied epifaunal communities that differed from those associated with the compressed and leafier thalli of Dictyota spp., which were instead dominated by surface-associated taxa. Notably higher richness and diversity values were recorded in sheltered sites, especially in the case of J. rubens, showing that the effect of habitat architecture may be modulated by wave exposure. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment with standard chemotherapeutics such as capecitabine (CAP) and irinotecan (IRT) is frequently limited by toxicity and resistance. To identify novel adjuvant strategies, we investigated the dichloromethane–methanol (DM) Soxhlet extract of the red alga Jania rubens, previously shown to exert intrinsic antiproliferative effects via reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction, inhibition of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and suppression of TET enzymes. The present study evaluated the effect of the DM extract in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in HCT-116, Caco-2, and HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines, assessing its potential to enhance treatment response. Co-treatment with the DM extract significantly enhanced the cytotoxic and anti-migratory effects of CAP and IRT in HCT-116 and Caco-2 cells. Combination treatment also impaired long-term clonogenic survival, suggesting the inhibition of therapy-resistant subpopulations. Flow cytometric analysis (Annexin V-FITC/PI) revealed a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis in HCT-116 cells following DM treatment. Western blot analysis further supported the pro-apoptotic activity of the DM extract by demonstrating reduced BCL-2 protein expression. The extract additionally modulated the mRNA expression levels of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10), suggesting potential immunomodulatory effects in colorectal cancer cells. Notably, co-administration of IRT and the DM extract enhanced apoptosis, primarily through the downregulation of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2. Together, these findings indicate that the Jania rubens DM extract modulates multiple cellular pathways and enhances the response to conventional CRC chemotherapeutic agents. Full article

The red seaweed Jania rubens (J. rubens) is prevalent along the Lebanese coast and has drawn attention for its notable antineoplastic properties. Our previous data showed that its dichloromethane–methanol (DM) extract possesses antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-migratory effects on colon cancer cells. In the present study, a GC-MS analysis of DM extract identified a diverse profile of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and pyrazole derivatives with antioxidant and anticancer activities. In vitro assays demonstrated that the DM extract exerts significant cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines, including colon, breast, and cervical types. Further investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms revealed that the extract induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and reduces the expression of EMT (epithelial–mesenchymal transition) markers, N-cadherin and Twist. In addition, the extract showed anti-metastatic properties through its ability to decrease MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Mechanistically, DM caused a substantial reduction in Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) enzymes TET-1, TET-2, and TET-3, which are essential DNA demethylation regulators, thus decreasing their enzymatic product 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC). Interestingly, despite a significant increase in intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species), suggesting a contribution to cytotoxicity, no substantial change in the biogenesis of promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) was detected. These findings demonstrate that J. rubens DM extract contains bioactive compounds with multiple anticancer effects, thus making it a promising candidate for developing new therapeutic agents. Full article

Plant callus cultures are a sustainable alternative for producing bioactive secondary metabolites, but their low yields limit industrial applications. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is rich in medicinally valuable compounds, yet conventional cultivation faces challenges. To address this, we use biofortified calcium phosphate nanoparticles, which refer to CaP-NPs that have been enriched with bioactive compounds via green synthesis using Jania rubens extract, thereby enhancing their functional properties as elicitors in carob callus. CaP-NPs were green-synthesized using Jania rubens extract and applied to 7-week-old callus cultures at 0, 25, 50, and 75 mg/L concentrations. At the optimal concentration (50 mg/L), CaP-NPs increased callus fresh weight by 23.9% and dry weight by 35.1%. At 50 mg/L CaP-NPs, phenolic content increased by 95.7%, flavonoids by 34.4%, tannins by 131.8%, and terpenoids by 211.9% compared to controls. Total antioxidant capacity rose by 76.2%, while oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decreased by 34.8% and 14.1%, respectively. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of PAL (4-fold), CHI (3.15-fold), FLS (1.16-fold), MVK (8.3-fold), and TA (3.24-fold) at 50 mg/L CaP-NPs. Higher doses (75 mg/L) induced oxidative damage, demonstrating a hormetic threshold. These findings indicate that CaP-NPs effectively enhance secondary metabolite production in carob callus by modulating biosynthetic pathways and redox balance, offering a scalable, eco-friendly approach for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Full article

Background/Objective: Colon cancer poses a significant health burden, with current treatments often associated with severe side effects and limited effectiveness for some patients. Natural products are gaining interest as adjuvant therapies, potentially reducing side effects and improving responses to conventional treatments. We previously highlighted the potent antineoplastic effects of organic extracts derived from the Lebanese red algae Jania rubens. This study, investigated the anticancer activities of polysaccharide, protein, and lipid extracts from J. rubens, which may serve as adjuvant therapies to enhance conventional treatments. Methods: we employed colorimetric assays, wound healing assays, and cell cycle analysis to evaluate the anticancer activities of the extracts. The polysaccharide extract was characterized for sulfate content and structure using barium chloride-gelatin and FT-IR methods. Results: All J. rubens extracts exhibited significant anticancer effects, with the polysaccharide extract showing particularly strong cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and antiproliferative and anti-migratory activities. Conclusion: These findings confirm that J. rubens is a source of bioactive compounds with anticancer potential. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the molecular pathways targeted by J. rubens extracts in cancer cells. Full article

This study represents the first investigation into the ultrasonic and microwave extraction of bioactive metabolites from Jania rubens (J. rubens) (red seaweed) and Sargassum. muticum (S. muticum) (brown seaweed), with a focus on their biological activities. The research compares ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) utilizing a hydromethanolic solvent to evaluate their effects on these seaweeds’ bioactive compounds and biological activities. The assessment included a series of antioxidant essays: DPPH, ABTS, phenanthroline, and total antioxidant capacity, followed by enzyme inhibition activities: alpha-amylase and urease. Results revealed significant proportions of phenolic compounds, ranging from 48.31 ± 0.32 to 74.42 ± 0.80 μg GAE/mg, depending on the extraction method. The extracts demonstrated a high antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 26.58 ± 0.39 to 87.55 ± 0.69 μg/mL. Notably, the MAE extract of S. muticum showed a value of 48.11 ± 2.75 μg/mL for alpha-amylase inhibition, which is strictly superior to the reference acarbose with an IC₅₀ equal to 3431.01 μg/mL. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified 14 bioactive compounds. The proportion of riboflavin with MAE was 70.58% and 59.11% for J. rubens and S. muticum fractions, respectively. These findings underscore the critical influence of extraction technique selection on bioactive compounds’ yield and efficiency, highlighting the potential of algal biomass as a sustainable alternative in various applications. Full article

Coastal urbanization and the consequent proliferation of artificial structures greatly impact rocky reef communities, productive and diverse marine environments that play a crucial role in the functioning of broader coastal ecosystems. This study, conducted along a 7 km stretch of coastline at increasing distance from the port of Genoa (Ligurian Sea), investigated whether the alternating presence of artificial and natural reefs leads to discernible differences in the biota inhabiting these two reef types. The study area is one of the most anthropized areas of the Mediterranean Sea, exhibiting nearly 60% coastal artificialization, which severely impacts coastal ecosystems, favouring the replacement of sensitive species with more tolerant species. Ten reefs (5 natural and 5 artificial) were surveyed by scuba diving at about a 6-m depth, employing quadrats of 50 cm × 50 cm to estimate visually the percent cover of conspicuous sessile organisms. The artificial reefs hosted a similar number of species (18) to their natural counterparts (19) but exhibited a distinct community composition: the former were especially characterized by Jania rubens and filamentous algae, with the latter characterized by Peyssonnelia squamaria and Mesophyllum lichenoides. This difference, however, became negligible where coastal habitat fragmentation (here measured with a purposely devised Fragmentation Index) was minimal. Reducing fragmentation may therefore represent a management strategy to minimize the potential impact of artificial structures on marine biodiversity. Full article

Artificial coastal structures, such as seawalls, breakwaters, and groins, can exert various impacts on the fish communities in the nearby regions. This study focuses on assessing the ecological effects of coastal infrastructure on marine environments, by comparing, at different seasons, the habitat complexity and heterogeneity, as well as their effects on fish assemblages, between the artificial habitat created with the intention of constructing a marina (Puerto Amor) and the natural habitats surrounding the Cabo de la Huerta area in Alicante (Spain). Employing an asymmetric design and examining two temporal and spatial scales, we utilized visual censuses in snorkeling to gauge the abundance and size of fish species, alongside various parameters related to habitat complexity and heterogeneity. The overarching hypothesis is that fish populations associated with artificial habitats will differ in terms of abundance, biomass, species richness, and diversity compared to fish populations associated with natural habitats, due to changes in complexity and heterogeneity. The findings indicate a shift in fish assemblages; for example, the family Labridae showed differences between the two habitat types for several species. These changes were due to the influences of the Posidonia oceanica meadow and algae like Jania rubens; being influenced by biological variables such as Ellisolandia elongata, Oculina patagonica, and Sarcotragus spinosulus; as well as physical variables such as stones, gravel, and blocks. While there is evidence of alteration in fish assemblages due to changes in habitat structure, there is also an increase in richness (9 species/m²) and total abundance and biomass (1000 ind./m² and 1700 g/m², respectively) in the artificial habitat. Multivariate analyses reveal that the fish community in Puerto Amor is less homogeneous than the one in the natural habitat. However, these analyses also indicate an overlap between the communities of both habitats, suggesting substantial similarity despite the noted differences. Consequently, although the habitat alteration has impacted fish populations, it has not diminished abundance, biomass, or species richness. In conclusion, the artificial rocky habitat resulting from the construction attempt at Puerto Amor harbor has fish populations with ecological significance and its removal could lead to undesirable impacts in the area, as the fish assemblages have become well established. Full article

Jania rubens red seaweed has various bioactive compounds that can be used for several medicinal and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, we investigate the antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant competency of Jania rubens polyphenolic extract (JRPE) by assessing their interactions with α-amylase, lipase, and trypsin enzymes. HPLC analysis revealed the dominance of twelve polyphenolic compounds. We performed computational analysis using α-amylase, lipase, and trypsin as target proteins for the polyphenols to explore their activities based on their predicted modes of binding sites following molecular modeling analysis. The molecular docking analysis demonstrated a good affinity score with a noticeable affinity to polyphenolic compositions of Jania rubens. The compounds with the highest affinity score for α-amylase (PDB: 4W93) were kaempferol, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid, with −8.4, −8.8 and −8 kcal/mol, respectively. Similarly, lipase (PDB: 1LPB) demonstrated high docking scores of −7.1, −7.4, and −7.2 kcal/mol for kaempferol, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid, respectively. Furthermore, for trypsin (PDB: 4DOQ) results, kaempferol, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid docking scores were −7.2, −7.2, and −7.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The docking findings were verified using in vitro evaluations, manifesting comparable results. Overall, these findings enlighten that the JRPE has antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties using different diabetics’ enzymes that could be further studied using in vivo investigations for diabetes treatment. Full article

Seaweeds are increasingly intriguing as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. They have applications in agriculture, fuels, feed, and food products. To become a cost-competitive product with zero waste, a biorefinery approach is applied, where several products are valorized at the same time. True-Algae-Max (TAM^®) has been investigated for its ability to improve the yield and nutritional facts of a strawberry plant. Three concentrations of TAM (0, 50, and 100%) were examined by foliar spray in 2017 with 50% NPK chemical fertilizer. Results indicated that growth, yield, chlorophyll, and potassium content were significantly improved by TAM treatments. TAM50 % resulted in maximum root length, leaf area, plant fresh weight, fruit weight, and yield with an increase ranging from 10 to 110% compared to control. Compared to the NPK control, strawberries grown with TAM50% improved total soluble solids (TSS) from 7.58 to 10.12% and anthocyanin from 23.08 to 29.42 mg CGE 100 g⁻¹. Noteworthily, this reduced total sugar, and total phenolics were boosted by TAM applications, while non-reducing sugar was reduced compared to control. On the other hand, whole seaweed biomass and TAM residuals were used for bioethanol production by acid scarification. The maximum bioethanol yield was observed in residual biomass (0.34 g g⁻¹ dw), while the whole seaweed biomass showed only 0.20 g g⁻¹ dw. These results proved the biorefinery concept of using seaweed extract as a biostimulator and bioethanol production. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked the second most lethal type of tumor globally. Thus, developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics that are less aggressive and more potent is needed. Recently, natural bioactive molecules are gaining interest as complementary and supportive antineoplastic treatments due to their safety, effectiveness, and low cost. Jania rubens (J. rubens) is a red coral seaweed abundant in the Mediterranean and bears a significant pharmacological essence. Despite its therapeutic potential, the natural biomolecules extracted from this alga are poorly identified. In this study, the proximal analysis revealed high levels of total ash content (66%), 11.3% proteins, 14.5% carbohydrates, and only 4.5% lipids. The elemental identification showed magnesium and calcium were high among its macro minerals, (24 ± 0.5 mg/g) and (33 ± 0.5 mg/g), respectively. The Chlorophyll of J. rubens was dominated by other pigments with (0.82 ± 0.02 mg/g). A 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay identified effective antioxidant activity in various J. rubens extracts. More importantly, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium reduction and wound healing assays indicate that organic extracts from J. rubens significantly counteract the proliferation of colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and HT-29) and inhibit their migratory and metastatic properties in a dose and time-dependent manner. Overall, this study provides insight into the physicochemical properties of red seaweed, J. rubens, and identifies its significant antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-migratory potential on two colorectal cell lines, HCT-116 and HT-29. Full article

Macroalgae have been regarded as a natural food source since ancient times, their nutritional value being not only proven by recent studies, but also triggering further in-depth research efforts on the matter. The present study aims to provide an insight into the nutritional potential of selected red seaweed species collected in central Portugal by specifically comparing the moist yield and ash content, crude protein, total lipids, carbohydrates and pigment content between species and, ultimately, finding out if there are differences between taxa. The results obtained highlighted the most nutritionally appealing species, namely, Plocamium cartilagineum with respect to protein content (23.18% dw) and Sphaerocococcus coronopifolius with respect to carbohydrate content (40.23% dw), while none of the species studied showed a lipid content higher than 1.80% dw. Regarding pigment content, the highest concentrations of phycoerythrin, carotenoid and chlorophyll a were obtained, respectively, from P. cartilagineum (0.09 mg.mL⁻¹), Porphyra umbilicalis (1.88 µg.g⁻¹ fw) and Jania rubens (38.41 µg.mL⁻¹). We concluded that there are significant differences between the species studied regarding their nutritional profile, with a marked difference between Corallinales and all other species not belonging to this order; regarding pigment content, this variation between orders was not observed. Nevertheless, all the studied species may act as promising complements in a human healthy diet. Full article

Seaweed extract biostimulants are among the best modern sustainable biological plant growth promoters. They have been proven to eliminate plant diseases and abiotic stresses, leading to maximizing yields. Additionally, they have been listed as environmentally friendly biofertilizers. The focus of the present research is the use of a commercial seaweed biostimulant as an eco-friendly product (formally named True Algae Max (TAM). During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, five treatments of various NPK:TAM ratios were applied via regular fertigation, namely a conventional treatment of 100% NPK (C₀) alongside combinations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (C₂₅, C₅₀, C₇₅, and C₁₀₀) of TAM, to evaluate the effectiveness of its bioactive compounds on enhancing growth, yield, and NPK content of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under greenhouse conditions. TAM is rich in phytochemical compounds, such as milbemycin oxime, rhodopin, nonadecane, and 5-silaspiro [4.4]nona-1,3,6,8-tetraene,3,8-bis(diethylboryl)-2,7-diethyl-1,4,6,9-tetraphenyl-. Promising measured parameter outcomes showed the potentiality of applying TAM with and without mixes of ordinary NPK application. TAM could increase cucumber yield due to improving chemical and physical features related to immunity, productivity, and stress defense. In conclusion, it is better to avoid applying mineral fertilizers, considering also that the organic agricultural and welfare sectors could shortly depend on such biotechnological tools and use them to fulfill global food demands for improved sustainability. Full article

Marine-extracted sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) have been the subject of myriad research since they are considered an eco-friendly source of biologically active compounds. Meanwhile, food and pharmaceutical industries are urgently producing natural sugar substitutes and antioxidants as alternatives to synthetic ones which are associated with cytotoxicity and safety issues. This study assesses the potential of using marine SPs obtained via the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of different marine species, to utilize them as antioxidant sugar substitutes. The carbohydrate, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities were measured for SP extracts of the algal species of Ulva lactuca, Jania rubens and the marine plant mangrove Avicennia marina. These SPs were structurally elucidated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The results revealed that SPs’ highest yield percent was obtained from Ulva lactuca, 5.50 ± 0.25%. The SPs of Avicennia marina had the highest carbohydrate content, 44 ± 1% and antioxidant activity, 78.85 ± 0.06 at the 100 μg/mL concentration and 89.50 ± 0.21 at the 250 μg/mL concentration. Meanwhile, the highest phenolic content was exhibited by algal SPs obtained from Jania rubens, 132.60 ± 2.50 mgGa/g. Results also showed that all extracts have potent antioxidant activity, while the highest antioxidant activity belonged to the SPs of Avicennia marina owing possibly to their balanced glucose and galactose contents as measured by HPLC. This work emphasizes the need to consider sulfated polysaccharides from marine sources for their antioxidant activity and to correlate it with their monosaccharide content to determine the effect of reducing sugar concentration on the antioxidant activity. Full article