Phycocyanin Extracted from Oscillatoria minima Shows Antimicrobial, Algicidal, and Antiradical Activities: In silico and In vitro Analysis

Effect of C-phycocyanin purified from Spirulina platensis on cooled ram semen quality and in vivo fertility

This research sought to purify C-phycocyanin (C-PC) from Spirulina platensis and investigate its potential in enhancing the quality parameters and in vivo fertility of ram semen subjected to cooled storage at 5 °C, when using a skim milk (SM) based semen extender. The purification process of C-PC involved cold maceration, pre-purification using chitosan and activated charcoal, followed by purification through aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) and ion-exchange chromatography. Afterward, fifty ejaculates were collected from 4 fertile Boujaâd rams and extended using the SM extender at 37 °C, enriched with 0 μg/mL (control), 1.2 μg/mL, 2.4 μg/mL, 3.6 μg/mL, or 4.8 μg/mL of C-PC. The diluted semen was subsequently cooled to 5 °C using a controlled cooling process, with a gradual cooling rate of approximately 0.5 °C per minute, and its quality parameters were evaluated after 0, 4, 8, and 24 h of cooling storage. Then, its fertilization ability after 4 h of cooling storage was evaluated using artificial insemination. The adopted purification process yielded a grade analytical purity of 4.06. Additionally, semen extended in SM with a 2.4 μg/mL C-PC supplement displayed significant (P < 0.0001) enhancement in total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, viability and lipid peroxidation of ram semen at 0, 4, 8, and 24 h of cooling storage. These improvements were observed in direct comparison to both the control group and the other C-PC concentrations. Regarding fertility rates, semen extended in SM with a 2.4 μg/mL C-PC recorded a 76 % rate, a notable increment from the 63 % observed in ewes inseminated by semen extended in SM alone, although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). These findings underscore the promising potential of C-PC as a natural supplement for enhancing semen quality, warranting further investigations.

Microbial pigments: Sources, current status, future challenges in cosmetics and therapeutic applications

Color serves as the initial attraction and offers a pleasing aspect. While synthetic colorants have been popular for many years, their adverse environmental and health effects cannot be overlooked. This necessitates the search for natural colorants, especially microbial colorants, which have proven and more effective. Pigment-producing microorganisms offer substantial benefits. Natural colors improve product marketability and bestow additional benefits, including antioxidant, antiaging, anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumor properties. This review covers the various types of microbial pigments, the methods to enhance their production, and their cosmetic and therapeutic applications. We also address the challenges faced during the commercial production of microbial pigments and propose potential solutions.

Chitosan Sponges for Efficient Accumulation and Controlled Release of C-Phycocyanin

The paper proposed a new porous material for wound healing based on chitosan and C-phycocyanin (C-PC). In this work, C-PC was extracted from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis biomass and purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation. The obtained C-PC with a purity index (PI) of 3.36 ± 0.24 was loaded into a chitosan sponge from aqueous solutions of various concentrations (250, 500, and 1000 mg/L). According to the FTIR study, chitosan did not form new bonds with C-PC, but acted as a carrier. The encapsulation efficiency value exceeded 90%, and the maximum loading capacity was 172.67 ± 0.47 mg/g. The release of C-PC from the polymer matrix into the saline medium was estimated, and it was found 50% of C-PC was released in the first hour and the maximum concentration was reached in 5-7 h after the sponge immersion. The PI of the released C-PC was 3.79 and 4.43 depending on the concentration of the initial solution.

Optimization of Melanin Production by Streptomyces antibioticus NRRL B-1701 Using Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis Residues Hydrolysates as Low-Cost L-tyrosine Supplement

Melanin is a functional pigment that is used in various products. It can be produced by Streptomyces antibioticus NRRL B-1701 when supplemented with L-tyrosine. Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis is a cyanobacterium with high protein content, including the protein phycocyanin (PC). During PC's extraction, biomass residues are generated, and these residues still contain various amino acids, especially L-tyrosine, which can be used as a low-cost supplement for melanin production. Thus, this study employed a hydrolysate of A. platensis biomass residue for L-tyrosine substitution. The effects of two drying methods, namely, lyophilization and dying via a hot air oven, on the proximate composition and content of L-tyrosine in the biomass residue were evaluated. The highest L-tyrosine (0.268 g L-tyrosine/100 g dried biomass) concentration was obtained from a hot-air-oven-dried biomass residue hydrolysate (HAO-DBRH). The HAO-DBRH was then used as a low-cost L-tyrosine supplement for maximizing melanin production, which was optimized by the response surface methodology (RSM) through central composite design (CCD). Using the RSM-CCD, the maximum level of melanin production achieved was 0.24 g/L, which is approximately four times higher than it was before optimization. This result suggests that A. platensis residue hydrolysate could be an economically feasible and low-cost alternative source of L-tyrosine for the production of melanin.

Evaluation of the spectral characteristics, purity and antioxidant activity of C-phycocyanin from the cyanobacteria collected in Kaunas Lagoon (Lithuania)

The physicochemical characteristics of phycocyanin extracted from cyanobacteria collected in Kaunas Lagoon were studied (spectrum characteristics, C-PC content in the dry mass and chemical purity). It was determined that the tested concentrations of C-PC in purified water should be in the range of 0.02–0.16% for measuring C-PC content in the dry mass and its spectrum characteristics. The two clear absorption maxima were detected in the spectrum of C-PC at the wavelengths of 277 and 619 nm. The content of C-PC in the dry powder form was in the range of 7.25% to 9.30% depending on its concentration in the solution and type of spectrophotometer. Furthermore, a purity factor of 1.5 was calculated, which indicated the food qualification of the obtained biomass of C-PC. Finally, the analytical procedure for studying the pro- and anti-oxidant activity of C-PC was developed and the antioxidant activity of C-PC was measured for the available markers. It was revealed that C-PC has dual properties (pro- and anti-oxidant ones) depending on its concentration, more exactly, its content in reaction mixtures with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The following issues were resolved during the research: the concentration of ethanol in the DPPH solution was chosen in order to avoid precipitation of proteins in the reaction mixtures (50%); the ratio of the solution of C-PC to the DPPH solution was selected; the selected concentrations of the markers for the construction of their calibration curves were chosen for quercetin and for rutin. The antioxidant activity of the obtained C-PC sample was determined. Keywords: antioxidant activity, C-phycocyanin, cyanobacteria, DPPH, quercetin, rutin

Cyano-Phycocyanin: Mechanisms of Action on Human Skin and Future Perspectives in Medicine

Cyano-phycocyanin is one of the active pigments of the blue-green algae and is usually isolated from the filamentous cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis Gomont (Spirulina). Due to its multiple physiological functions and non-toxicity, cyano-phycocyanin may be a potential substance for the topical treatment of various skin diseases. Considering that the conventional medicine faces drug resistance, insufficient efficacy and side effects, the plant origin compounds can act as an alternative option. Thus, the aim of this paper was to review the wound healing, antimicrobial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimelanogenic and anticancer properties and mechanisms of cyano-phycocyanin topical activities on human skin. Moreover, possible applications and biotechnological requirements for pharmaceutical forms of cyano-phycocyanin for the treatment of various skin diseases are discussed in this review.

Nostoc sphaeroides Cyanobacteria: a review of its nutritional characteristics and processing technologies

Nostoc sphaeroides is an edible Cyanobacterium which has high nutritional value and is widely used in dietary supplements and therapeutic products. N. sphaeroides contains protein, fatty acid, minerals and vitamins. Its polysaccharides, phycobilin, phycobiliproteins and some lipids are highly bioactive. Thus, N. sphaeroides possesses anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and cholesterol reducing functions. This paper reviews and evaluates the literature on nutritionally and functionally important compounds of N. sphaeroides. It also reviews and evaluates the processing of technologies used to process N. sphaeroides from fresh harvest to dry particulates including pretreatment, sterilization and drying, including their impact on sensorial and nutritional values. This review shows that a suitable combination of ultrasound, radio frequency and pulse spouted microwave with traditional sterilization and drying technologies greatly improves the sensorial and nutritive quality of processed N. sphaeroides and improves their shelf life; however, further research is needed to evaluate these hybrid technologies. Once suitably processed, N. sphaeroides can be used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical drugs as an ingredient.

Antibacterial Activity and Amphidinol Profiling of the Marine Dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae (Subclade III)

Microalgae have received growing interest for their capacity to produce bioactive metabolites. This study aimed at characterising the antimicrobial potential of the marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae strain LACW11, isolated from the west of Ireland. Amphidinolides have been identified as cytotoxic polyoxygenated polyketides produced by several Amphidinium species. Phylogenetic inference assigned our strain to Amphidinium carterae subclade III, along with isolates interspersed in different geographic regions. A two-stage extraction and fractionation process of the biomass was carried out. Extracts obtained after stage-1 were tested for bioactivity against bacterial ATCC strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The stage-2 solid phase extraction provided 16 fractions, which were tested against S. aureus and E. faecalis. Fractions I, J and K yielded minimum inhibitory concentrations between 16 μg/mL and 256 μg/mL for both Gram-positive. A targeted metabolomic approach using UHPLC-HRMS/MS analysis applied on fractions G to J evidenced the presence of amphidinol type compounds AM-A, AM-B, AM-22 and a new derivative dehydroAM-A, with characteristic masses of m/z 1361, 1463, 1667 and 1343, respectively. Combining the results of the biological assays with the targeted metabolomic approach, we could conclude that AM-A and the new derivative dehydroAM-A are responsible for the detected antimicrobial bioactivity.

In-silico prediction of the beta carboline alkaloids Harmine and Harmaline as potent drug candidates for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease manifested by core symptoms of loss of motor control and postural instability. Loss of dopaminergic neurons is the cause of PD, thus enhancing dopamine level by pharmacological treatment is one of the key treatment strategies for PD. However, limitations of current treatment strategies open the possibility of novel drug candidates for the treatment of PD.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-PD potential of Harmine and Harmaline. We aim to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Harmine and Harmaline by in-silico approaches; molecular docking, pharmacokinetic and Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) analysis were used for evaluating the therapeutic potential of Harmine and Harmaline and standard drug levodopa (L-DOPA).

METHODS

Auto dock vina was used for molecular docking of all three compounds against D2- and D3- dopamine receptors. The pharmacokinetics (PKs) and toxicity profile were predicted by pkCSM and the pharmacological activity was predicted by PASS analysis.

RESULTS

Molecular docking showed a higher binding affinity of Harmine and Harmaline as compared to L-DOPA, and these results were supported by in-silico pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiling. Moreover, PASS analysis showed anti-PD activi-ty of Harmine and Harmaline.

CONCLUSION

Harmine and Harmaline exhibit higher binding affinity towards D2- and D3- dopamine receptors compared to L-DOPA, and PKs and toxicity profile support their potential as drug candidates for PD therapy.

Potential Therapeutic Applications of C-Phycocyanin

BACKGROUND

Cancer and other disorders such as inflammation, autoimmune diseases and diabetes are the major health problems observed all over the world. Therefore, identifying a therapeutic target molecule for the treatment of these diseases is urgently needed to benefit public health. C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is an important light yielding pigment intermittently systematized in the cyanobacterial species along with other algal species. It has numerous applications in the field of biotechnology and drug industry and also possesses antioxidant, anticancer, antiinflammatory, enhanced immune function, including liver and kidney protection properties. The molecular mechanism of action of C-PC for its anticancer activity could be the blockage of cell cycle progression, inducing apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells.

OBJECTIVES

The current review summarizes an update on therapeutic applications of C-PC, its mechanism of action and mainly focuses on the recent development in the field of C-PC as a drug that exhibits beneficial effects against various human diseases including cancer and inflammation.

CONCLUSION

The data from various studies suggest the therapeutic applications of C-PC such as anti-cancer activity, anti-inflammation, anti-angiogenic activity and healing capacity of certain autoimmune disorders. Mechanism of action of C-PC for its anticancer activity is the blockage of cell cycle progression, inducing apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. The future perspective of C-PC is to identify and define the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which would shed light on our knowledge on therapeutic applications of C-PC and may contribute significant benefits to global public health.