Antimicrobial activity of marine algal extracts

Total, hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts of 21 marine algae species (2 species of Chlorophyta, 11 of Phaeophyceae and 8 of Rhodophyta) collected along the coast of Russian Far East were screened for antimicrobial activities (against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans). Among the macroalgal extracts analyzed, 95% were active against at least one of studied microorganisms, while 80% of extracts were active against two or more test strains. Broad-spectrum activity against three studied microorganisms was observed in the 35% of extracts from tested species of marine seaweeds. The results of our survey did not show clear taxonomic trends in the activities of the total extracts and their hydrophilic fractions against the studied microorganisms. Nevertheless, lipophilic red algal extracts had both the highest values and broadest spectrum of bioactivity among all survey algal extracts. More over, lipophilic extracts from red algal exhibited the highest activity against fungus C. albicans among tested algal extracts

Antimicrobial activity of marine algal extracts

Total, hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts of 21 marine algae species (2 species of Chlorophyta, 11 of Phaeophyceae and 8 of Rhodophyta) collected along the coast of Russian Far East were screened for antimicrobial activities (against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans). Among the macroalgal extracts analyzed, 95% were active against at least one of studied microorganisms, while 80% of extracts were active against two or more test strains. Broad-spectrum activity against three studied microorganisms was observed in the 35% of extracts from tested species of marine seaweeds. The results of our survey did not show clear taxonomic trends in the activities of the total extracts and their hydrophilic fractions against the studied microorganisms. Nevertheless, lipophilic red algal extracts had both the highest values and broadest spectrum of bioactivity among all survey algal extracts. More over, lipophilic extracts from red algal exhibited the highest activity against fungus C. albicans among tested algal extracts

Taxonomic revision of <i>Gracilaria</i> “<i>verrucosa</i>” from the Russian Far East based on morphological and molecular data

Abstract Gracilaria “verrucosa” is now regarded an invalid name, with G. gracilis being used in recent studies of the genus from the Russian coast of the East Sea (Sea of Japan). This has created nomenclatural confusion for members of the genus in this region. Here we revise the taxonomy of G. “verrucosa” from Peter the Great Bay (East Sea, Russia) based on morpho-anatomical characters and comparisons of nuclear small subunit rDNA, plastid rbcL and mitochondrial cox1 sequence data. No differences were found between sequences for attached and unattached forms of G. “verrucosa”. Molecular data also indicate that G. “verrucosa” from Peter the Great Bay is conspecific with Gracilaria vermiculophylla from the northwestern Pacific, and the Russian population is closely related to Korean-Japanese populations from the East Sea rather than with populations on the Pacific coast of Japan.</jats:p

Clarification of taxonomic position of Lukinia dissecta Perestenko

Based on the data of morphological, anatomical and genetic analysis, the taxonomic position of Lukinia dissecta was clarified. Features of cystocarp structure, such as absence of tela arachnoidea, gonimoblast, consisting of three gonimolobes, where most of cells turn into the carposporangia, presence of major conjunctor cell in aggregate with genetic data allow this species to be attributed to the Rhodymeniaceae (Rhodymeniales).</jats:p