Insulin-like growth factor II, a marker gene for determining the optimum dietary protein level in clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris.

In vivo study was conducted to determine the role of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-II) related to dietary protein utilization. For this early juvenile stage of marine false clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris, 300 numbers of 20-day-old larvae (initial body weight of 18.2±0.027 mg/fish) were used as an experimental animal. Animals were fed for 12 weeks with different dietary protein levels (35, 40, 45, 50, and 55%), using Spirulina maxima as a major protein source. Proximate compositions and amino acid profile of the formulated diet were analyzed by the standard methods. Eventually, significant (P<0.05) mean, body weight gain, absolute growth rate, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio were obtained in the fishes fed with 50% of dietary protein, whereas, poor growth performance was noticed in 35% of the dietary protein level fed juveniles. The growth-responsible gene IGF-II expression studies showed the significant upregulation in the growth of the juveniles at 2.05±0.11 for 40%, 3.13±0.20 for 45%, 4.97±0.13 for 50%, and 4.33± 0.24 for 55%, which were higher than the control group 35%. The study concluded that 50% of dietary protein level is optimal for better growth indices in clownfish; A. ocellaris juveniles and IGF-II can be used as a potential marker gene to assess the growth indices in A. ocellaris.

Sulfated galactan from Halymenia dilatata enhance the antioxidant properties and prevents Aeromonas hydrophila infection in tilapia fish: In vitro and in vivo study.

The structural characterization and pharmaceutical perspective of sulfated galactan from Halymenia dilatata (Hd-SG) were reported in this study. The Hd-SG consists of carbohydrate (58.5 ± 0.9%), sulfate (28.7 ± 0.9%) and protein (2.7 ± 0.2%). The existence of carbon (28.14%), hydrogen (5.50%), nitrogen (0.51%) and sulfur (8.26%) was confirmed in CHNS analysis. The Hd-SG was mainly comprising of galactose and mannose connected by (1 â†’ 4)-glycosidic linkages, and it shows the molecular weight of 900.9 × 103 g/mol in high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The Hd-SG exhibited the dose depended on antioxidant activities. The in vitro and in vivo studies proved the antibacterial efficacy of Hd-SG against Aeromonas hydrophila. The pre-treated Oreochromis fish with Hd-SG (2.0 g/0.1 kg of feed) showed the highest survival, antioxidant, and improved histological changes than the fish infected with A. hydrophila alone. These results concluded that the isolated Hd-SG has extensive therapeutic properties, and it can be used as preventive medicine.

Isolation and structural characterization of sulfated polysaccharide from Spirulina platensis and its bioactive potential: In vitro antioxidant, antibacterial activity and Zebrafish growth and reproductive performance.

In this study, the sulfated polysaccharide (SPs) was isolated from Spirulina platensis. The isolated SPs contains carbohydrate, sulfate, protein and uronic acid at 38.7 ±â€¯0.30%, 21.3 ±â€¯0.87%, 7.1 ±â€¯0.15% and 7.9 ±â€¯0.4% respectively. The elemental analysis confirmed the presence of carbon (18.01 ±â€¯0.10%), hydrogen (1.83 ±â€¯0.02%) and nitrogen (3.43 ±â€¯0.01%). The monosaccharide composition and molecular weight of SPs were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and size exclusion chromatography respectively. The monosaccharide composition analysis showed the existence of glucose, rhamnose, xylose, fucose, mannose, galactose and the molecular weight of SPs was 1016 kDa. Further, the characterization of SPs was done by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR analysis. The obtained SPs exhibited potent antioxidant activity in DPPH (76.45 ±â€¯0.49%), reducing power (absorbance: 1.3 ±â€¯0.02), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (66.3 ±â€¯1.16%), hydroxyl scavenging (68.6 ±â€¯3.2%), nitric oxide (81.36 ±â€¯1.85%) and total antioxidant (absorbance:1.66 ±â€¯0.02) activities at 5 mg/ml. In addition, SPs revealed the highest antibacterial efficacy against the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio vulnificus in disc diffusion, agar bioassay and protein leakage assays at 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, the supplementation of 2% SPs through a feed to the Danio rerio fish enhances the growth and reproductive performances. This finding confirmed that the isolated SPs from S. platensis possess pharmaceutical as well as nutritional properties.

Antibacterial efficacy of a fucoidan fraction (Fu-F2) extracted from Sargassum polycystum.

In this study therapeutic potential of fucoidan fraction-2 (Fu-F2) isolated from Sargassum polycystum was evaluated for the development of antibacterial agent against the human and animal pathogenic bacteria by in vitro and in vivo analysis. The Fu-F2 contained 51.12 ±â€¯0.86% of total sugar and 20.41 ±â€¯0.91% of sulfate. The structural characterization of Fu-F2 was performed by HPLC, FTIR and NMR analysis and reported in our earlier study. The in vitro antibacterial assays such as MIC, MBC, killing kinetics, disk diffusion, protein leakage, ROS and confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrate that Fu-F2 possesses the highest antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens. Among the tested pathogens, the highest antibacterial activity (21 ±â€¯1.0 mm) was recorded at the concentration of 50 µg/ml against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the lowest activity (16 ±â€¯0.53 mm) was registered against Staphylococcus aureus. In the in vivo analysis, the pre-treatment group with Fu-F2 at the concentration of 15 mg/0.1 kg through feed exhibited the highest survival (83.4%) and antioxidant activities (p < 0.05) than the fish infected with pathogen. Thus, the present findings suggest that the Fu-F2 of S. polycystum encompasses significant antibacterial properties and that can be used as a therapeutic agent for controlling the bacterial disease.

Investigation of antioxidant and anticancer potential of fucoidan from Sargassum polycystum.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer potential of fucoidan isolated from Sargassum polycystum. The isolated fucoidan was successfully purified by DEAE cellulose-ion exchange chromatography and dialysis. Totally four active fractions (F1-F4) were collected and explored its chemical constitution by calorimetric assays. Among them, fraction 2 (F2) showed the higher yield percentage, fucose and sulphate content. Further, monosaccharide composition, structural and functional properties of the F2 was analyzed by HPLC, FTIR and NMR. F2 shows highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (55.94 ±â€¯0.69%), reducing power (0.33 absorbance rate), hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (71.76 ±â€¯2.14%) and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity (51.81 ±â€¯1.04%) at 1000 µg/ml. The cell viability of MCF-7 and HCT-15 cell lines was proportionate to the concentration of F2 with an estimated IC50 was 20 and 50 µg/ml respectively. The fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis demonstrated the apoptotic morphological changes and cell mediated death in F2 treated cancer cells. Higher amount of LDH release was found in the F2 treated cancer cells than the control group. Thus, the present finding proved that the isolated F2 encompasses significant antioxidant and anticancer property.

In vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of sulfated polysaccharides isolated from Spatoglossum asperum.

Fucoidan was extracted productively from Spatoglossum asperum and its antioxidant and antibacterial potential against Aeromonos hydrophila was investigated. The isolated fucoidan was characterized by HPLC, FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR spectrum. The isolated fucoidan contained 60.9% fucose, 21.35±0.81% sulfate and 4.2±0.56% protein, respectively. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activities. The extracted fucoidan showed antioxidant properties in a dose-dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of isolated fucoidan was tested against A. hydrophila using agar bioassay, agar well diffusion and confocal assays. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration was obtained at 100µg/ml and the maximum zone of inhibition (33mm) was observed at 150µg/ml of fucoidan concentration in agar bioassay and agar well diffusion assay. The experimental results proved that the extracted fucoidan from S. asperum possesses admirable antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Isolation of fucoidan from Sargassum polycystum brown algae: Structural characterization, in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity.

In this study antioxidant and anticancer effect of fucoidan isolated from brown seaweed Sargassum polycystum was investigated. The total yield of fucoidan was 4.51±0.24%, of these, 46.8% of fucose and 22.35±0.23% of sulphate respectively. The structural characteristic of fucoidan was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. The antioxidant properties were determined by DPPH scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant assays. The maximum DPPH scavenging activity (61.2±0.33%), reducing ability (67.56±0.26%) and total antioxidant activity (65.3±0.66%) were obtained at 1000µg/ml of fucoidan. The cytotoxicity effect of fucoidan showed a higher percentage (90.4±0.25%) of inhibition against the MCF-7 cell line at 150µg/ml with an estimated IC50 at 50µg/ml. Further, cytomorphological and apoptosis changes of fucoidan treated cells were observed under inverted light microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The results demonstrated that the isolated fucoidan from S. polycystum possessed potent antioxidant and anticancer properties.

Heterotrophic cultivation of Nannochloropsis salina for enhancing biomass and lipid production.

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to enhance the biomass and lipid content in Nannochloropsis salina due to its economic importance. Preliminary screening results revealed that the heterotrophically cultivated N. salina with various carbon and nitrogen sources yielded higher biomass (0.91 ± 0.0035 g/L) and lipid content (37.1 ± 0.49 mg/L) than that of the photoautotrophical cultivation (0.21 ± 0.009 g/L and 22.16 ± 0.27 mg/L). Significant sources that greatly influenced on biomass and lipid content of the alga were optimized through RSM. The medium consisting of glucose (7.959 g/L), sodium acetate (1.46 g/L), peptone (7.6 g/L) and sodium thiosulphate (1.05 g/L) was found to be the optimal concentration for heterotrophic cultivation by response optimizer. Confirmation experiment results for the RSM optimized concentration yielded the biomass of 1.85 g/L and total lipid content of 48.6 mg/L. In this study, we provide with a strategy for enhancing the biomass and lipid content in N. salina.

In vitro anticancer activity of fucoidan from Turbinaria conoides against A549 cell lines.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer activity of fucoidan isolated from brown seaweed Turbinaria conoides. Extracted fucoidan contained 53 ± 0.69% of fucose and 38 ± 0.42% of sulphate, respectively. Functional groups and structural characteristics of the fucoidan were analyzed by FT-IR and NMR. In vitro anticancer effect was studied on A549 cell line. Fucoidan inhibited the growth of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and potent anticancer activities were 24.9-73.5% in the concentrations of 31.25-500 µg/ml. The CTC50 value against the cancer cell was found to be 45 µg/ml and the CTC50 value of normal Vero cell line is 325 µg/ml. This study suggests that the fucoidan from T. conoides could be significantly improved if the active component is further purified and tested for further investigation in various cancer cell lines.

Harmful metals concentration in sediments and fishes of biologically important estuary, Bay of Bengal.

Study on the accumulation level of heavy metals was conducted on sediment and fishes from estuaries of Bay of Bengal. Heavy metals were determined by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and the results were compared to permissible limits of WHO/USEPA. The accumulation patterns of Fe and Cd were found predominantly in all samples tested when correlated with other metals. It was found that the concentration of metals such as Cd (3.90 ± 0.25 µg/g), Cr (0.44 ± 0.05 µg/g), Ni (0.33 ± 0.01 µg/g), and Mn (1.1 ± 0.11 µg/g) were exceeding the permissible limit, whereas Fe, Co, Pb, and Zn were found within the limit of WHO/USEPA at station 1. In station 2, Cd (16.5 ± 0.4 µg/g), Mn (0.67 ± 0.11 µg/g), and Cr (0.80 ± 0.01 µg/g) were exceeding the permissible limit, whereas Fe, Co, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found within the limit. This study emphasizes that Cd and Mn levels in both stations, are far higher than the acceptable values set by WHO/USEPA and may therefore present human health hazards. It is therefore mandatory to carry out extensive research to evaluate the possible environmental risk factors in the vicinity of both estuaries with respect to heavy metals.

The effect of fucoidan from brown seaweed Sargassum wightii on WSSV resistance and immune activity in shrimp Penaeus monodon (Fab).

The polysaccharide-fucoidan was extracted from brown seaweed Sargassum wightii and characterized through FT-IR and (13)C &(1)H NMR analysis. The extracted fucoidan was supplemented with pellet diets at three different concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%). The fucoidan supplemented diets were fed to Penaeus monodon for 45 days, then challenged with WSSV and the mortality percentage was recorded daily up to 21 days. During the challenge test, the control group showed 100% mortality within 10 days, but in the experimental groups, the mortality percentage (51-72% within 21 days) was decreased considerably (P < 0.05) with respect to the concentrations of fucoidan. The reduction in mortality percentage of experimental groups over control group was ranged from 50.81 to 68.06%. During challenge experiment, the immunological parameters such as THC, prophenoloxidase activity, respiratory burst activity, superoxide dismutase activity and phagocytic activity were measured before injection of WSSV (0 day) and after the injection of WSSV on 10th and 21st days, respectively. All the immunological parameters of experimental groups were significantly (P < 0.05) increased than control group. RT-PCR analysis confirmed the considerable reduction of WSSV DNA copy numbers with respect to the concentration of fucoidan. It was concluded that P. monodon fed with fucoidan of S. wightii supplemented diet had enhanced the innate immunity and increased resistance against WSSV infection.