Preparation and Characterization of an Anticancer Peptide from Oriental Tonic Food Enteromorpha prolifera

Algae-derived compounds: Bioactivity, allergenicity and technologies enhancing their values

As a rapidly growing source of human nutrients, algae biosynthesize diverse metabolites which have promising bioactivities. However, the potential allergenicity of algal components hinder their widespread adoption. This review provides a comprehensive review of various macro and micronutrients derived from algal biomass, with particular focus on bioactive compounds, including peptides, polyphenols, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids and phycocyanins. The approaches used to produce algal bioactive compounds and their health benefits (antioxidant, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory) are summarised. This review particularly focuses on the state-of-the-art of precision fermentation, encapsulation, cold plasma, high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, and subcritical water to reduce the allergenicity of algal compounds while increasing their bioactivity and bioavailability. By providing insights into current challenges of algae-derived compounds and opportunities for advancement, this review contributes to the ongoing discourse on maximizing their application potential in the food nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals industries.

Isolation and Characterization of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Enteromorpha prolifera Lipids and Their Preventive Effects on Ulcerative Colitis in C57BL/6J Mice

Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) is a green alga that causes green bloom worldwide. This study aimed to isolate and identify n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from EP oil obtained via supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and to explore its preventive effects against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6J mice. In EP oil, we found the novel n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid C16:4n-3 and two unusual fatty acids C18:4n-3 and C16:3n-3, using GC-MS. The administration of EP oil reduced histopathological of symptoms colitis and the shortening of the colon length. Pro-inflammatory cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum of EP oil treatment were lower than DSS treatment (by 37.63% and 83.52%), and IL-6 gene expression in the colon was lower in than DSS group by 48.28%, and IL-10 in serum was higher than DSS group by 2.88-fold. Furthermore, the protein expression of p-STAT3 by the EP oil treatment was significantly reduced compared with DSS treatment group by 73.61%. Lipidomics study suggested that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were positively associated with the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, while cholesteryl ester and sphingomyelin were negatively related to inflammation cytokines in the EP oil group. The present results indicated that EP oil rich in n-3 PUFA contains a novel fatty acid C16:4n-3, as well as two uncommon fatty acids C18:4n-3 and C16:3n-3. EP oil could prevent DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by regulating the JAK/STAT pathway and lipid metabolism.

Natural Bacterial and Fungal Peptides as a Promising Treatment to Defeat Lung Cancer Cells

Despite the increasing availability of modern treatments, including personalized therapies, there is a strong need to search for new drugs that will be effective in the fight against cancer. The chemotherapeutics currently available to oncologists do not always yield satisfactory outcomes when used in systemic treatments, and patients experience burdensome side effects during their application. In the era of personalized therapies, doctors caring for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have been given a powerful weapon, namely molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapies. They can be used when genetic variants of the disease qualifying for therapy are diagnosed. These therapies have contributed to the extension of the overall survival time in patients. Nevertheless, effective treatment may be hindered in the case of clonal selection of tumor cells with acquired resistance mutations. The state-of-the-art therapy currently used in NSCLC patients is immunotherapy targeting the immune checkpoints. Although it is effective, some patients have been observed to develop resistance to immunotherapy, but its cause is still unknown. Personalized therapies extend the lifespan and time to cancer progression in patients, but only those with a confirmed marker qualifying for the treatment (gene mutations/rearrangements or PD-L1 expression on tumor cells) can benefit from these therapies. They also cause less burdensome side effects than chemotherapy. The article is focused on compounds that can be used in oncology and produce as few side effects as possible. The search for compounds of natural origin, e.g., plants, bacteria, or fungi, exhibiting anticancer properties seems to be a good solution. This article is a literature review of research on compounds of natural origin that can potentially be used as part of NSCLC therapies.