ABSTRACT
Marine algae are potential sources of biologically active compounds with antiviral, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Two species of marine algae, Padina boryana Thivy and Enteromorpha sp were collected from the Red Sea. Both species were extracted with ethanol, acetone, and hexane. The extracts of each sample were examined for, total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that solvents with different polarities have various effects on phenolic and flavonoid contents. Among the tested solvents, ethanolic extract of Padina boryana Thivy and Enteromorpha sp showed the highest phenolic content. Results also indicated that the extracts of Padina boryana Thivy showed higher antimicrobial activity compared to Enteromorpha sp. The present study demonstrates that both algae species exhibited excellent antimicrobial properties which may use as natural food preservative for possible application in food for health promotion.
ABSTRACT
Cyanobacteria are potential sources of biologically active compounds with antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. In the present investigation, the effect of different solvents, including methanol, acetone, and water on the total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Oscillatoria agardhii and Anabaena sphaerica extracts were evaluated. The results showed that solvents with different polarities have various effects on phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Among the tested solvents, methanolic extract of Oscillatoria agardhii showed the highest antioxidant activity as well as the highest phenolic content. Organic extracts (with methanol or acetone) of the tested species actively inhibited the growth of bacteria compared to aqueous extracts. The highest antibacterial activity was detected by acetone extract of Oscillatoria agardhii against Salmonella senftenberg. By GC-MS analysis some important heterocyclic compound were identified in both Oscillatoria agardhii and Anabaena sphaerica crude extracts. This appeared to be responsible for such excellent antioxidant and antibacterial activity together with other unidentified compounds. Further exploration of antibacterial potential of cyanobacteria can open new horizons.
ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers in the world.The burden of HCC has been increasing in Egypt with a doubling in the incidence in the past ten years. The prognosis of most patients is unsatisfactory due to rapid clinical deterioration after the initial diagnosis. Therefore, it is very important to detect HCC and the recurrence at its earlier period. Glypican-3(GPC3) is a cell-surface protein, which is a member of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan family. GPC3 was indentified in the serum of patients with HCC and can be used as a serological test for the diagnosis of HCC. The aim was to assess the value of serum GPC3 in Egyptian patients with HCC. This study was included 30 patients with HCC, 30 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy controls. For all groups we studied clinical data, image findings, serum alphafetoprotein(AFP) levels detected by enzyme immunoassay(EIA) kit and GPC3 gene expression was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Tumour characteristics were assessed including size, number and site. Tumour staging was done using Okuda &Tokyo staging systems.The data showed that HCC patients had a significantly higher mean GPC3 values (p=0.000)than both cirrhotics and healthy control groups. GPC3 has a positive significant correlation with tumour size (p=0.015)and Tokyo staging system(p=0.047).GPC3 could be a useful diagnostic & prognostic marker for detection of HCC.