The Large Jellyfish Rhizostoma luteum as Sustainable a Resource for Antioxidant Properties, Nutraceutical Value and Biomedical Applications

Jellyfish is a compartment in the marine food web that often achieves high increases of biomass and that it is starting to be explored for several human potential uses. In this paper, a recently rediscovered large jellyfish, Rhizostoma luteum, is studied for the first time to describe its organic compounds for the isolation and production of bioactive compounds in several fields of food, cosmetics, or biomedical industries. The biogeochemical composition (Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur content), protein and phenols content, together with their antioxidant activity, and the analysis oflipid content (identifying each of the fatty acids presented) was analyzed. The results presentedhere suggested this jellyfish has the highest antioxidant activity ever measured in a jellyfish, butalso with high content in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including the essential fatty acidlinoleic. The large natural biomass of Rhizostoma luteum in nature, the wide geographical spread,the fact that already its life cycle has been completed in captivity, establishes a promising positiveassociation of this giant jellyfish species and the isolation of bioactive compounds for future use in marine biotechnology.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades under grant number CTM2016-75487-R for the project MED2CA and the CSIC under grant number 2017301072. The research stay of R.L.V. was funded by Erasmus + ProgramPeer reviewe

Intertidal ponds of Messina's beachrock faunal assemblage, evaluation of ecosystem dynamics and communities' interactions

Beachrock can be found in intertidal marine environments worldwide even though the knowledge about its ecological value in Messina's strait is still quite scarce. In this study, six tidal ponds of Messina's Beachrock were sampled from October 2016 to October 2017 to investigate the ecological status of the area, biotic and abiotic factors that can influence the faunal assemblage and the relationships among the communities inhabiting the various pools examined. A total of 13399 organisms, belonging to 5 Phyla, were identified by Visual Census. The surveyed stations showed biodiversity values and evenness that depend, above all, from the edaphic features and water exchange of the different tidal ponds. Tidal ponds characterized by a lower water exchange showed a faunal assemblage characterized by the presence of species tolerant to a wide temperature and salinity range, as Mugil cephalus, Clibanarius erythropus and Phorcus turbinatus. The pools with the most water exchange showed the highest abundance and evenness values; while the ponds characterized by hard bottom showed this feature as strong influence on the species composition. A preliminary mathematical study was also carry out to describe, qualitatively, the main mechanisms ruling the interaction between the Clibanarius erythropus and Phorcus turbinatus

A Multi-screening Evaluation of the Nutritional and Nutraceutical Potential of the Mediterranean Jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca

The phylum Cnidaria is one of the most important contributors in providing abundance of bio- and chemodiversity. In this study, a comprehensive chemical investigation on the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of Mediterranean jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca was carried out. Also, compositional differences between male and female organisms, as well as between their main anatomical parts, namely bell and oral arms, were explored in an attempt to select the best potential sources of nutrients and/or nutraceuticals from jellyfish. With the exception of higher energy densities and total phenolic contents observed in females than males, no statistically significant differences related to the specimen’s sex were highlighted for the other compound classes. Rather, the distribution of the investigated chemical classes varied depending on the jellyfish’s body parts. In fact, crude proteins were more abundant in oral arms than bells; saturated fatty acids were more concentrated in bells than oral arms, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were distributed in the exact opposite way. On the other hand, major elements and trace elements demonstrated an opposite behavior, being the latter most accumulated in oral arms than bells. Additionally, important nutraceuticals, such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, and antioxidant minerals, were determined. Overall, obtained data suggest the potential employment of the Mediterranean P. noctiluca for the development of natural aquafeed and food supplements