Isolation of Gram-positive Firmibacteria as major eicosapentaenoic acid producers from subtropical marine sediments.

In this study, a total of 172 putative omega-3 producers were isolated from 28 sediment samples from the Arabian Gulf employing a selective isolation procedure using marine agar containing 0·1% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC). Out of these 172 isolates, 19 isolates produced eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as confirmed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The EPA content of the isolated bacterial strain varied from 1·76 to 6·52% of total fatty acids. Among the 19 isolates of EPA producers, while 17 isolates harboured both pfaA gene and Δ6 desaturase gene, only five isolates harboured Δ5 desaturase gene. Two of the EPA positive strains harbour none of the three genes tested. The 16s RNA identification of these isolates revealed that except one, all the EPA producers were Gram-positive marine bacteria belonging to the phylum Firmicutes, family Bacillacea, genera Bacillus and Oceanobacillus. Halomonas pacifica was the only Gram-negative Gamma-Proteobacteria detected to produce EPA from this region. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Recently, marine bacteria are considered as a promising source of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) over marine fishes and microalgae. PUFA producers reported from polar and deep-sea sources were restricted to five well-known marine genera under two distinct domains of bacteria such as proteobacteria (Shewanella, Colwellia, and Moritella) and cytophaga group (Flexibacter, Psychroflexus). This study revealed that subtropical marine environment could also be the source of PUFA producing bacteria, and they predominantly belonged to the class of Firmibacteria. This finding opens up new avenue for research to study the inherent mechanism and physiology of such organisms from this unique environment.

Antioxidant activity of cod (Gadus morhua) protein hydrolysates: Fractionation and characterisation of peptide fractions.

This study aimed to characterise peptide fractions (>5kDa, 3-5kDa and <3kDa) with antioxidative activity obtained from a cod protein hydrolysate. The free amino acids in all fractions were dominated by Ala, Gly, Glu and Ser. The total amino acid composition had high proportions of Lys, Ala and Glu. The 3-5kDa and <3kDa fractions were further fractionated by size exclusion chromatography. All sub-fractions showed high Fe(2+) chelating activity. The DPPH radical-scavenging activity of the 3-5kDa fraction was exerted mainly by one sub-fraction dominated by peptides with masses below 600Da. The DPPH radical-scavenging activity of the <3kDa fraction was exerted by sub-fractions with low molecular weight. The highest reducing power was found in a sub-fraction containing peptides rich in Arg, Tyr and Phe. Both free amino acids and low molecular weight peptides thus seemed to contribute to the antioxidative activity of the peptide fractions, and Tyr seemed to play a major role in the antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant activities and functional properties of protein and peptide fractions isolated from salted herring brine.

In the present study proteins isolated from herring brine, which is a by-product of marinated herring production were evaluated for their functional properties and antioxidant activity. Herring brine was collected from the local herring industry and proteins were precipitated by adjusting the pH to 4.5 and the obtained supernatant was further fractionated by using ultrafiltration membranes with molecular weight cut offs of 50, 10 and 1kDa. The obtained >50kDa, 50-10kDa, 10-1kDa fractions and pH precipitated fraction were studied for their functional properties and antioxidant activity. Functional properties revealed that >50kDa polypeptides showed good emulsion activity index when compared to the other fractions. However all fractions had low emulsion stability index. The pH precipitated fraction showed the highest foaming capacity and stability at pH 10. The 50-10kDa and 10-1kDa peptide fractions showed good radical scavenging activity and reducing power at a concentration of 0.5mg protein/ml. All the fractions demonstrated low iron chelating activity and did not inhibit oxidation in a soybean phosphatidylcholine liposome model system. However all the fractions were to some extent able to delay iron catalyzed lipid oxidation in 5% fish oil in water emulsions and the 10-50kDa fraction was the best. These results show the potential of proteins and peptide fractions recovered from waste water from the herring industry as source of natural antioxidants for use in food products.

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of selected species of seaweeds from Danish coast.

Water and ethanolic extracts of 16 species of seaweeds collected along the Danish coasts were screened for antioxidant activities using four in vitro antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, reducing power, ferrous ion-chelating and liposome model system). Furthermore their effectiveness in retarding lipid peroxidation in fish oil was evaluated by an accelerated stability test. Significant differences were observed in total and individual phenolic content and the antioxidant activities of seaweed species evaluated. Ethanol was more efficient for polyphenol extraction than water. Polysiphonia fucoides and all the Fucus species tested showed highest radical scavenging activity, reducing power, inhibition of oxidation in liposome model system and in fish oil and were high in phenolic content. These seaweeds could be potential rich sources of natural antioxidants for protection of foods against oxidation. In general, the various antioxidative assays correlated well with the total phenolic content, indicating that algal polyphenols are active components in these extracts. However, in some of the antioxidative assays some species with low total phenolic content also showed good antioxidative effects indicating that some other co-extracted active compounds such as pigments and tocopherols in ethanolic extracts and sulphated polysaccharides, proteins or peptides in water extracts may also contribute to the overall antioxidant properties and this needs further investigation.

Effect of squalene on tissue defense system in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

This study was designed to examine the effects of squalene on tissue antioxidant status in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in male albino rats. Levels of diagnostic marker enzymes [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK)] in plasma, lipid peroxides, reduced glutathione, and the activities of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)] and antiperoxidative enzymes [catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] in the heart tissue of experimental groups of rats were determined. The prior administration of squalene at 2% level along with feed for 45 days significantly prevented the isoproterenol-induced elevation in the levels of diagnostic marker enzymes in plasma of experimental rats. Squalene also exerted an antioxidant effect against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction by blocking the induction of lipid peroxidation. A tendency to prevent the isoproterenol-induced alterations in the level of reduced glutathione and in the activities of glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzymes and antiperoxidative enzymes was also observed. The cardioprotective effect of squalene might be ascribable to its antioxidant property and membrane stabilizing action.