Jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo collected off Goa Coast (India) as a rich source of tryptophan containing collagen and its enhanced antioxidant potential.

The extraction of Rhizostoma pulmo discarded off the Goa coast, India resulted in obtaining remarkably higher yield of 47% (based on lyophilized weight) type I collagen. The amino acid composition showed presence of glycine, hydroxyproline and proline and other amino acids in consistent with mammalian collagens. Interestingly, it also possessed essential amino acid tryptophan that makes this collagen superior than other commercially available collagen products. The dose and time response anti-oxidant activity (DPPH assay) of jellyfish collagen showed increase in the percentage activity with its efficiency better than marine fish collagen. In the dose response, IC50 was found to be 11.0 mg/ml. The percentage DPPH activity gradually increased from 47.58 to 81.11% with time 1-8 h, respectively at concentration of 7 mg/ml of jellyfish collagen. It was noteworthy to observe that the anti-oxidant activity remained 80% even after 24 h of analysis. The EDX analysis showed presence of minerals like Cl, Na, Mg, K, Cu, Fe, Zn etc. essential for healthy bones. The mass assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOF MS) data showed several precursor peaks of different peptides which has been presented here for the first time. The finding showed higher production of tryptophan containing anti-oxidant collagen that will certainly enhance its benefit in neurotransmission and cognitive function.

Comparative assessment of amino acids composition in two types of marine fish silage.

Fish silage is a brown liquefied product achieved by the action of enzymes when finely grounded whole/parts of either single or mixed fish types are subjected to acidification. This study made a comparative assessment of biochemical and nutritive properties, especially the amino acid composition in supernatant phase of formic acid silages prepared from two fish types, Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and false travely (Lactarius lactarius) representing fat fish (FF, fat content > 5%) and lean fish (LF, fat content < 5%), respectively during 35 days of fermentation (DoF). Significantly higher content of total amino acid (TAA) and free amino acids (FAA) were recorded in FFS (TAA, 41.2 ± 0.03 mg/g; FAA, 31.3 ± 0.003 mg/g) compared to LFS (TAA, 35.8 ± 0.07 mg/g; FAA, 18.26 ± 0.003 mg/g; FAA, 31.3 ± 0.003 mg/g) (p < 0.05). At the end of 35 DoF, the concentrations of amino acids such as asparagine, histidine, isoleucine, valine, cysteine, serine, lysine and arginine were significantly higher in FFS as compared to LFS. The relative amino acid composition of FFS and LFS varied in accordance with DoF and the relationship was found to be highly significant (ANOVA, p < 0.00001). High concentrations of L-amino acids such as leucine, glutamic acid and arginine were recorded in both FFS and LFS. In conclusion, the analysis suggested that a fermentation period of 25-30 days showed a significant effect on the composition of amino acids in both types of ensilage compared to other fermentation periods (p < 0.05). Considering the role of amino acids in enhancing the plant growth and proliferation, the findings of the present study are quite useful.

Morphological and molecular evidence for first records and range extension of the Japanese seahorse, Hippocampus mohnikei (Bleeker 1853) in a bay-estuarine system of Goa, central west coast of India.

Accurate information of taxonomy and geographic range of seahorse species (genus Hippocampus) is the first step in preparing threat assessments and designing effective conservation measures. Here, we report first records and a range extension of the Japanese seahorse, Hippocampus mohnikei (Bleeker, 1853) from the Mandovi estuarine ecosystem of Goa, central west coast of India (CWCI) based on morphological and molecular analyses. The morphometric and meristic traits, particularly short snout (29-35% head length), double cheek spine, low coronet, long tail (51.2-57.9% of standard length), 11 trunk rings, 37-39 tail rings, 15-16 dorsal and 12-14 fin rays observed in four collected specimens matched with the reported key diagnostic morphological criteria of vouchered specimens of H. mohnikei. The seahorse mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes were partially sequenced for conclusive genetic identification of the species under study. Molecular analysis showed that all four individuals clustered together suggesting a monophyletic lineage. Using the maximum similarity with GenBank database, maximum likelihood network and subsequent morphological analysis, the identity of the collected seahorse species was reconfirmed as H. mohnikei. With this new report, the geographic range of H. mohnikei extended significantly to the west from its previously known range. This new sighting of H. mohnikei could indicate a long-distance dispersal facilitated by the prevailing oceanic circulation in the Indo-Pacific region or increased habitat suitability in bay-estuarine systems of Goa, CWCI. Comparison of the pair-wise genetic distances (Kimura 2-parameter) based on COI and Cyt b sequences revealed that the specimens examined in this study are genetically closer to H. mohnikei populations from Vietnam and Thailand than they are to those in Japan and China. To test the hypothesis whether H. mohnikei are vagrants or previously unreported established population, long-term inter-annual sampling and analyses are warranted.