Some Like It Fat: Comparative Ultrastructure of the Embryo in Two Demosponges of the Genus Mycale (Order Poecilosclerida) from Antarctica and the Caribbean

0000-0002-7993-1523© 2015 Riesgo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License [4.0], which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article

Impact of refrigerated storage on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of two Algerian carrot varieties (Daucus carota L.)

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is one of the main root vegetables rich in bioactive compounds with appreciable health-promoting properties, largely consumed in Algeria. In the current study, the storage effect (at 4 °C throughout 12 days) on bioactive compound stability and the antioxidant activity of two Algerian orange carrot varieties (Supermuscade and Touchon) were investigated. Total phenolic content of samples was determined by the Folin–Ciocâlteu method. Antioxidant capacity was determined spectrophotometrically, based on the evaluation of Free Radical Scavenging Activity (FRSA) using DPPH radical and Ferric Reducing Power (FRP). The results showed that the Touchon variety is richer in phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids and presents higher antioxidant activity in comparison with the Supermuscade variety. At the end of storage, the bioactive compound content and antiradical activity increased significantly (p < 0.05). Also, an extremely significant correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between the antioxidant contents and the antioxidant capacities of aqueous carrot extracts

Type I cadherins are required for differentiation and coordinated rotation in Xenopus laevis somitogenesis

7siIn Xenopus laevis somitogenesis, somitic blocks undergo coordinated movements resulting in their detachment from the rest of the mesodermal ridge, followed by a 90° rotation of the entire metamere. Here we investigated the function of type I cadherins in somitogenesis. Type I cadherins are Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules concentrated in the adherens junctions and highly expressed in the somitic tissue. We analyzed their role in somitogenesis by overexpressing either the intracellular (∆E) and the extracellular (C-trunc) dominant-negative forms of cadherin. The resulting phenotype was a downward bend of the anterior-posterior axis in tadpole stage embryos. 12/101 antigen and X-Myo-D expression were altered. Microscopy revealed disorganization of the myotomes. Conversely, segmentation was conserved at the microscopic and molecular levels.nonemixedGiacomello, Emiliana; Vallin, Jerome; Morali, Olivier; Coulter, Ivan S.; Boulekbache, Habib; Thiery, Jean P.; Broders, FlorenceGiacomello, Emiliana; Vallin, Jerome; Morali, Olivier; Coulter, Ivan S.; Boulekbache, Habib; Thiery, Jean P.; Broders, Florenc

Phenolic compounds from an Algerian medicinal plant (: Pallenis spinosa): Simulated gastrointestinal digestion, characterization, and biological and enzymatic activities

Pallenis spinosa is a medicinal plant which is used in folk medicine as curative or preventive remedies for various diseases. Individual phenolic compounds from the methanolic extracts of its flowers, leaves and stem were determined by the high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) and total phenolic contents (TPC) were evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The stability and bioactivity (antioxidant activity, micellar cholesterol solubility, α-amylase, and angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitory effects) of these extracts in the gastrointestinal environment was determined before and after their protection in hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) capsules. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of thirteen phenolic compounds with nine flavonoids and four phenolic acids. Except for kaempferol, the twelve other compounds have not been previously detected in the aerial part of the studied plant. Quantification of phenolics by HPLC and Folin Ciocalteu methods revealed that the highest TPC was detected in the flower extracts (104.31 ± 0.80 and 145.73 ± 0.48 mg EGA per g of extract, respectively). Leaf extracts displayed the best antioxidant capacity against the two tested radicals DPPH and ABTS (IC50 = 1.24 ± 0.03 and 0.94 ± 0.02 mg mL-1, respectively), FRAP assay (IC50 = 0.50 ± 0.02 mg mL-1), α-amylase inhibitory (IC50 = 1.25 ± 0.00 mg mL-1) and angiotensin activity with an inhibitory percent of 30.10 ± 0.12%. The best activity shown by stem extracts was against micellar cholesterol solubility (67.57 ± 0.00%). A strong decrease in TPC and their bioactivity was observed after the gastrointestinal digestion (GID) in non encapsulated extracts. These results showed that P. spinosa is a good source of phenolic compounds and GID affects significantly their composition, content and bioactivity

Antioxidant activity, carotenoids, chlorophylls and mineral composition from leaves of Pallenis spinosa: An Algerian medicinal plant

Plant and medicinal herbs are important sources of bioactive compounds and minerals that can play a role in preventing various diseases and they are considered a factor indispensable for the proper functioning of the human body. We investigated the content of carotenoids and chlorophylls of leaves from Pallenis spinosa (P. spinosa), as well as their antioxidant activity and mineral composition then, we optimized the solvent extraction for the recovery of total carotenoids and chlorophylls using spectrophotometric method. Finally, we tested the antioxidant activity of the optimized extract by three assays (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) and we determined the mineral composition by Emission Spectrometer Induced Couple Plasma (ICP). Carotenoid (CART), chlorophylls (CHLa + b), chlorophyll a (CHLA), chlorophyll b (CHLB) contents were about 36.337 ± 0.312; 347.769 ± 6.326; 224.286 ± 5.601; 123.483 ± 1.339 mg/100 g dw, respectively. We revealed an interesting antioxidant capacity by the tested extract (DPPH: 127.522 ± 1.406 mmol ET/Kgdw, ABTS: 104.827 ± 1.222 mmol ET/Kgdw and FRAP 71.89 ± 0.495 ± 0.994 mmol ET/Kgdw). Carotenoids and chlorophylls content correlate positively with the antioxidant activity of P. spinosa leaves extract (r=0.646-0.986). Eight minerals have been detected (Mg, Ca, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Cr), Mg and Ca being the predominant ones (6479.32 ± 48.33 and 3851.88 ± 130.63 mg/Kg, respectively). These results have shown that P. spinosa leaves are a good source of carotenoids and chlorophylls with a potent antioxidant potential with high amount of minerals