Search Results (13)

One year of monthly sampling in some lagoons of the Po Delta and a pond in the Comacchio Valleys helped fill a gap in the knowledge of the primary producers of these degraded environments, focusing on the competition between macrophytes and phytoplankton. Key water column and surface sediment parameters showed a strong association with the different primary producers, explaining the main factors influencing the dominance of one group over the other. Phytoplankton, recorded as Chlorophyll-a and Phaeophytin-a, and Chlorophyceae among the macrophytes, dominated in conditions of high water turbidity and elevated nutrient concentrations. In contrast, macrophytes, particularly Rhodophyceae, their abundance, total biomass, and number of taxa. prevailed in clear, oxygenated waters. Under optimal conditions, sensitive macroalgae and aquatic angiosperms were also present. Additionally, the current list of macroalgal taxa has been updated, highlighting the dominance of some nonindigenous species (NIS) that had not been recorded before the 2000s. Specifically, Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Ulva australis, native to the North West Pacific (Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam) and to South Australia, as well as the Indo-West Pacific (India, South Africa, Japan, and Korea), respectively, are now the most frequent and abundant taxa in these lagoons. Full article

UV-A (315–400 nm) is a component of solar radiation, which impacts plant physiology. Consequently, the impact was investigated of UV-A supplementation on various aspects of kale cultivation in a plant factory with artificial lighting. Three UV-A intensity treatments (5, 10, or 15 W/m²) were applied to kale plants for 5 days before harvesting. The results revealed that 5 or 10 W/m² UV-A supplementation provided significant advantages for kale growth. The fresh weight of the kale shoots increased by over 35–50% after UV-A exposure. In particular, the 10 W/m² UV-A exposure significantly improved the photosynthetic rate, water-use efficiency, and quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Y(II)). In addition, the treatment with UV-A positively impacted changes in leaf spectral indices, resulting in decreases in the simple ratio index (SR), the normalized phaeophytinization index (NPQI), and the normalized difference red edge index (NDRE). Furthermore, the phytonutrients in kale (Vitamin C, soluble protein, and total phenolics) were enhanced using the 10 W/m² UV-A treatment. One notable outcome was the consistent reduction in nitrate contents across all UV-A treatment intensities. Therefore, supplementing kale cultivation with UV-A radiation was a valuable strategy for enhancing kale yield and quality in plant factory production. Full article

Plant growth and the development of morphological traits in plants are inhibited under exposure to pharmaceuticals that are present in soil and water. The present study revealed that moxifloxacin (MOXI), nalidixic acid (NAL), levofloxacin (LVF) and pefloxacin (PEF) at concentrations of >0.29, >0.48, >0.62 and >1.45 mg × L^?1, respectively, inhibited the growth (Ir) of duckweed plants and decreased their yield (Iy). In the current study, none of the tested quinolones (QNs) at any of the examined concentrations were lethal for common duckweed plants. However, at the highest concentration (12.8 mg × L^?1), LVF increased Ir and Iy values by 82% on average and increased the values of NAL, PEF and MOXI by 62% on average. All tested QNs led to the loss of assimilation pigments. In consequence, all QNs, except for LVF, induced changes in chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), without any effect on phaeophytinization quotient (PQ) values. The uptake of NAL, MOXI, LVF by Lemna minor during the 7-day chronic toxicity test was directly proportional to drug concentrations in the growth medium. Nalidixic acid was absorbed in the largest quantities, whereas in the group of fluoroquinolones (FQNs), MOXI, LVF and PEF were less effectively absorbed by common duckweed. This study demonstrated that biosorption by L. minor occurs regardless of the plants’ condition. These findings indicate that L. minor can be used as an effective biological method to remove QNs from wastewater and water and that biosorption should be a mandatory process in conventional water and wastewater treatment. Full article

Management of irrigation and fertilization in greenhouses, if not done correctly, can cause soil salinization. The use of water treated with very low-frequency electromagnetic resonance fields (WVLF) can reduce salinization effects on the photosynthetic and biometric systems. Thus, the purpose of the research to evaluate the metabolism of photosynthesis and the impact of WVLF on the cultivation of tomato crops subjected to different levels of fertigation. For this, the gas exchange parameters were evaluated, as well as chlorophyll a fluorescence, sugar contents, sucrose, chlorophylls, and phaeophytins and fruit production. The gas exchange parameters had greater activity when subjected to irrigation with electromagnetic water, consequently the production of sugar and sucrose increased. Photosynthetic System II showed less salinity effect, being favored by very low-frequency electromagnetic resonance fields. The production increased by 20% for the dose of 2.5 d·Sm⁻¹ of WVLF reducing the effects caused by higher doses. Hence, the induction of water by electromagnetic fields can provide less damage to the photosynthetic system and to the cultivation of the tomato crop when subjected to saline stress and, consequently, favor the production of fruits by this crop under such conditions. Full article

The spatial distributions of (1) surface sediment characteristics (D_0.5, Sediment Surface Area (SSA), Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Phaeophytin-a (Phaeo-a), Total and Enzymatically Hydrolyzable Amino Acids (THAA, EHAA), ?¹³C) and (2) sediment profile image (apparent Redox Potential Discontinuity (aRPD), numbers and depths of biological traces) characteristics were quantified based on the sampling of 32 stations located within the West Gironde Mud Patch (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic) in view of (1) assessing the spatial structuration of a temperate river-dominated ocean margin located in a high-energy area, (2) disentangling the impacts of hydrodynamics and bottom trawling on this structuration, and (3) comparing the West Gironde Mud Patch with the Rhône River Prodelta (located in a low-energy area). Results support the subdivision of the West Gironde Mud Patch in a proximal and a distal part and show (1) the existence of depth gradients in surface sedimentary organics characteristics and bioturbation within the distal part; (2) no evidence for a significant effect of bottom trawling, as opposed to Bottom Shear Stress, on the West Gironde Mud Patch spatial structuration; and (3) major discrepancies between spatial structuration in the West Gironde Mud Patch and the Rhône River Prodelta, which were attributed to differences in tidal regimes, sedimentation processes, and local hydrodynamics, which is in agreement with current river-dominated ocean margin typologies. Full article

Obesity is a complex disease resulting in several metabolic co-morbidities and is increasing at epidemic rates. The marine environment is an interesting resource of novel compounds and in particular cyanobacteria are well known for their capacity to produce novel secondary metabolites. In this work, we explored the potential of cyanobacteria for the production of compounds with relevant activities towards metabolic diseases using a blend of target-based, phenotypic and zebrafish assays as whole small animal models. A total of 46 cyanobacterial strains were grown and biomass fractionated, yielding in total 263 fractions. Bioactivities related to metabolic function were tested in different in vitro and in vivo models. Studying adipogenic and thermogenic gene expression in brown adipocytes, lipid metabolism and glucose uptake in hepatocytes, as well as lipid metabolism in zebrafish larvae, we identified 66 (25%) active fractions. This together with metabolite profiling and the evaluation of toxicity allowed the identification of 18 (7%) fractions with promising bioactivity towards different aspects of metabolic disease. Among those, we identified several known compounds, such as eryloside T, leptosin F, pheophorbide A, phaeophytin A, chlorophyll A, present as minor peaks. Those compounds were previously not described to have bioactivities in metabolic regulation, and both known or unknown compounds could be responsible for such effects. In summary, we find that cyanobacteria hold a huge repertoire of molecules with specific bioactivities towards metabolic diseases, which needs to be explored in the future. Full article

Padina sanctae-crucis Børgesen is distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas; belongs to the Dictyotaceae family, and has proven to be an exceptional source of biologically active compounds. Four compounds were isolated and identified, namely: dolastane diterpene new for the genus Padina; phaeophytin and hidroxy-phaeophytin new for the family Dictyotaceae, and; mannitol first described in this species. Saturated fatty acids as compared to the percentages of unsaturated fatty acids were shown to be present in greater abundance. Palmitic and linolenic acid were the main saturated and unsaturated acids, respectively. Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities were evaluated using human erythrocytes. In vivo evaluations of acute toxicity and genotoxicity were performed in mice. Methanolic extract of P. sanctae-crucis presented antioxidant activity and did not induce cytotoxicity, genotoxicity or acute toxicity. Since Padina sanctae-crucis is already used as food, has essential fatty acids for the nutrition of mammals, does not present toxicity and has antioxidant activity, it can be considered as a potential nutraceutical. Full article

Four new compounds were isolated from the branches of Piper montealegreanum Yuncker, a shrub found in the Amazon rainforest, including two new dihydrochalcones named claricine (1) and maisine (2), a cinnamic acid derivative 3 and a phenylalkanoid 4, along with a porphyrin identified as the known compound phaeophytin a (5). The structures were established using spectroscopic experiments, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS experiments, performed on the two monoterpene dihydrochalcones and their monoacetyl derivatives. The structural diversity of these substances is very important for the Piper genus chemotaxonomy. Full article

The Cactaceae family is composed by 124 genera and about 1438 species. Pilosocereus gounellei, popularly known in Brazil as xique-xique, is used in folk medicine to treat prostate inflammation, gastrointestinal and urinary diseases. The pioneering phytochemical study of P. gounellei was performed using column chromatography and HPLC, resulting in the isolation of 10 substances: pinostrobin (1), ?-sitosterol (2), a mixture of sitosterol 3-O-?-d-glucopyranoside/stigmasterol 3-O-?-d-glucopyranoside (3a/3b), 13²-hydroxyphaeophytin a (4), phaeophytin a (5), a mixture of ?-sitosterol and stigmasterol (6a/6b), kaempferol (7), quercetin (8), 7?-ethoxy-trans-feruloyltyramine (mariannein, 9) and trans-feruloyl tyramine (10). Compound 9 is reported for the first time in the literature. The structural characterization of the compounds was performed by analyses of 1-D and 2-D NMR data. In addition, a phenolic and flavonol total content assay was carried out, and the anti-oxidant potential of P. gounellei was demonstrated. Full article

The phytochemical study of Cordia exaltata Lam. (Boraginaceae) led to the isolation, through chromatographic techniques, of nineteen secondary metabolites: 8,8'dimethyl-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-7-oxo-2,7'cyclolignan (1), 8,8'-dimethyl-4,5-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenodioxy-7-oxo-2,7'cyclolignan (2), sitosterol (3a), stigmasterol (3b), sitosterol-3-O-?-d-glucopyranoside (4a), stigmasterol-3-O-?-d-glucopyranoside (4b), phaeophytin A (5), 13²-hydroxyphaeophytin A (6), 17³-ethoxypheophorbide A (7), 13²-hydroxy-17³-ethoxypheophorbide A (8), m-methoxy-p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (9), (E)-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-propenoic acid (10), 1-benzopyran-2-one (11), 7-hydroxy-1-benzopyran-2-one (12), 2,5-bis-(3',4'-methylenedioxiphenyl)-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (13), 3,4,5,3',5'-pentamethoxy-1'-allyl-8.O.4'-neolignan (14), 3,5,7,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavonol (15), 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone (16), 5,8-dihydroxy-7,4’-dimethoxyflavone (17), kaempherol 3-O-?-d-glucosyl-6''-?-L-ramnopyranoside (18) and kaempherol 3,7-di-O-?-l-ramnopyranoside (19). Their structures were identified by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR using one and two-dimensional techniques. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of compounds 1, 2, 13 and 14 against bacteria and fungi are reported here for the first time. Full article

The phytochemical study of Sida rhombifolia L. (Malvaceae) led to the isolation through chromatographic techniques of eleven secondary metabolites: sitosterol (1a) and stigmasterol (1b), sitosterol-3-O-b-D-glucopyranoside (2a) and stigmasterol-3-O-b-D-glucopyranoside (2b), phaeophytin A (3), 17³-ethoxypheophorbide A (4), 13²-hydroxy phaeophytin B (5), 17³-ethoxypheophorbide B (6), 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone (7), cryptolepinone (8) and a salt of cryptolepine (9). Their structures were identified by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR using one- and two-dimensional techniques. In addition, the vasorelaxant activity of cryptolepinone in rat mesenteric artery rings is reported herein for the first time. Full article

A new phaeophytin, ligulariaphytin A, together with five known phaeophytins, were isolated from the aerial parts of Ligularia knorringiana. The structure of ligulariaphytin A was elucidated as 13¹-hydroxy-13¹,13²-peroxyphaeophorbide A ethyl ester (1), and the five known compounds were identified as 13²-hydroxyphaeophorbide A ethyl ester (2), 17³-ethoxyphaeophorbide A (3), phaeophytin B (4), phaeophytin A (5), and phaeophorbide B ethyl ester (6), respectively, based on spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their spectral data with those reported previously in the literature. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against cultured Hela cell, and were found to show only very weak cytotoxicity. Full article

Chemical examination of the green alga Cladophora fascicularis resulted in the isolation and characterization of a new porphyrin derivative, porphyrinolactone (1), along with five known phaeophytins 2-6 and fourteen sterols and cycloartanes. The structure of 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of its NMR data with those of known phaeophytins. Compounds 1-6 displayed moderate inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) induced nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) activation, while 2 and 4 displayed potential inhibitory activity toward proteasome chymotripsin-like activation. The primary structure-activity relationship was also discussed. Full article