Biological and Medicinal Importance of Sponge

Sponges are multicellular, heterotrophic parazoan organisms, characterized by the possession of unique feeding system among the animals. They are the most primitive types of animals in existence, featuring a cell-based organization where different cells have different tasks, but do not form tissues. Sponges (Porifera) are a predominantly marine phylum living from the intertidal to the abyssal (deepest ocean) zone. There are approximately 8500 described species of sponges worldwide with a prominent role in many reef coral communities. Several ecological studies reported have shown that secondary metabolites isolated from sponges often serve defensive purposes to protect them from threats such as predator attacks, biofouling, microbial infections, and overgrowth by other sessile organisms. In the recent years, interest in marine sponges has risen considerably due to presence of high number of interesting biologically active natural products. More than 5300 different natural products are known from sponges and their associated microorganisms, and every year hundreds of new substances are discovered. In addition to the unusual nucleosides, other classes of substances such as bioactive terpenes, sterols, fatty acids, alkaloids, cyclic peptides, peroxides, and amino acid derivatives (which are frequently halogenated) have been described from sponges or from their associated microorganisms. Many of these natural products from sponges have shown a wide range of pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antifungal, antiviral, anthelmintic, antiprotozoal, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, neurosuppressive, and antifouling activities. This chapter covers extensive work published regarding new compounds isolated from marine sponges and biological activities associated with them

The protective effect of Moringa oleifera plant extract against glutamate-induced DNA damage and reduced cell viability in a primary retinal ganglion cell line

Background Glutamate excitotoxicity can cause DNA damage and is linked to many retinal and neurological disorders. In mammals, the visual signal from the eyes to the brain is conducted only by retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which can be damaged by overstimulation of glutamate receptors. Methodology We examined the protective effects of Moringa oleifera seed extract against glutamate-induced DNA damage in RGCs. RGCs cells were treated with 5, 10, 50, or 100 µg/ml of M. oleifera seed extract and glutamate separately and then assessed for DNA damage using the comet assay. We also evaluated the viability of the RGCs after both treatments using the MTT test. Additionally, RGCs were pretreated with M. oleifera seed extract (50 or 100 µg/ml) for 2 h before glutamate treatment (100 µg/ml) to determine the potential protective effects of M. oleifera. We performed a phytochemical analysis of the M. oleifera seed extract using standard reactions. Results The M. oleifera seed extract was found to be rich in many phytochemicals. We observed a significant dose-dependent elevation in all comet assay variables in glutamate-treated RGCs, whereas M. oleifera seed extract treatments did not show any significant change in DNA integrity. Conclusion M. oleifera seed extract demonstrates neuroprotective effects, which suggests it may help to prevent the development of many neurodegenerative disorders

Antioxidant and hepatorenal protective effects of bee pollen fractions against propionic acid‐induced autistic feature in rats

In the brain, propionic acid (PA) can cross cell membranes and accumulate within cells, leading to intracellular acidification, which may alter neurotransmitter release (NT), communication between neurons, and behavior. Such elevation in levels of PA constitutes a neurodevelopmental metabolic disorder called propionic acidemia, which could clinically manifest as autism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of different fractions of bee pollen (BP) on PA‐induced autism in rats, and to evaluate their effects on the expression of liver and renal biomarkers. Groups of rats received treatments of different fractions of BP at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight/day for a period of 1 month. Normal control group I and group II were orally administered with phosphate‐buffered saline and propionic acid, respectively, for 3 days. BP contains various health‐promoting phenolic components. Different fractions of BP administered pre‐ and post‐treatment with PA showed significant reduction in the levels of liver and renal biomarkers (p < .05). Also, a significant enhancement in the levels of glutathione S‐transferase (GST), catalase CAT), and ascorbic acid (VIT C) was observed. Supplementation with BP significantly reduced biochemical changes in the liver, kidneys, and brain of rats with PA‐induced toxicity. It exhibited protective effects against oxidative damage and reactive oxygen species produced by PA‐induced adverse reactions in rats. Taken together, our study shows that BP possesses protective effects in PA‐induced liver and kidney damage

Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Potential of Biogenic Functionalized Polymeric Nutmeg Oil/Polyurethane/ZnO Bionanocomposite

The current study is focused on the biosynthesis of nutmeg oil/ polyurethane/ZnONPs bionanocomposite film for immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. The fabricated film was prepared by using naturally extracted nutmeg oil functionalized with ZnONPs in the presence of polyutherane (PU) medium. The bionanocomposite film was obtained by incorporating dropwise 10 % (w/v) of nutmeg oil to the PU solution/ZnONPs blend. The active constituents of nutmeg oil were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The morphological characteristics of the resulting bionanocomposite film were confirmed using various microscopic and spectroscopic methods. Immunomodulatory potential of bionanocomposite was evaluated for RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results exhibited an excellent reduction in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF&alpha;) secretions after the treatment with bionanocomposite. The bionanocomposite exerted the highest inhibitory effects on certain cell signaling constituents that influence the initiation of expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The bionanocomposite was also tested for DPPH and ABTS free radicals scavenging assays and showed excellent antioxidant potential with IC50 values (0.28 &plusmn; 0.22 and 0.49 &plusmn; 0.36), respectively. The outcomes suggested promising immunomodulatory and antioxidant potentials for the biogenic synthesized nutmeg oil/PU/ZnONPs polymeric bionanocomposite

Antibacterial and Immunomodulatory Potentials of Biosynthesized Ag, Au, Ag-Au Bimetallic Alloy Nanoparticles Using the Asparagus racemosus Root Extract

Two noble metals, such as silver and gold alloy nanoparticles, were successfully synthesized by the microwave assisted method in the presence of the Asparagus racemosus root extract and were used as an antibacterial and immunomodulatory agent. The nanostuctures of the synthesized nanoparticles were confirmed by various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The UV-vis spectrum exhibits a distinct absorption peak at 483 nm for the bimetallic alloy nanoparticles. The microscopic analysis revealed the spherical shaped morphology of the biosynthesized nanoparticles with a particle size of 10&ndash;50 nm. The antibacterial potential of the green synthesized single metal (AgNPs and AuNPs) and bimetallic alloy nanoparticles was tested against five bacterial strains. The bimetallic alloy nanoparticles displayed the highest zone of inhibition against P. aeurgnosia and S.aureus strains when compared to single metal nanoparticles and plant extract. In addition, the inmmunomodulatory potential of the root extract of A. racemosus, AgNPs, AuNPs, and Ag-Au alloy NPs is achieved by measuring the cytokine levels in macrophages (IL-1&beta;, IL-6, and TNF-&alpha;) and NK cells (IFN-&gamma;) of NK92 and THP1 cells using the solid phase sandwich ELISA technique. The results showed that the root extract of A. racemosus, AgNPs, and AuNPs can reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the macrophages cells, while Ag-Au alloy NPs can reduce cytokine responses in NK92 cells. Overall, this study shows that the microwave assisted biogenic synthesized bimetallic nanoalloy nanoparticles could be further explored for the development of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapies

Identification of Chemical Composition and Metal Determination of Retama raetam (Forssk) Stem Constituents Using ICP-MS, GC-MS-MS, and DART-MS

This study aims to investigate the chemical constituents of the stem of Retama raetam growing in Saudi Arabia. The organic and inorganic composition of ethanol extract of R. raetam stem has been explored using direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Analysis conducted by DART-MS and GC-MS reveals the presence of several interesting organic constituents identified as 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, sparteine, benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester, phthalic acid, 1-octadecanol, squalene, argentamin, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, sparteine, benzene propanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester, phthalic acid, 1-octadecanol, squalene, argentamin, and hentriacontane in the ethanol extract of the R. raetam stem. The ICP-MS analysis of stem extract showed the presence of a significant amount of important inorganic elements including aluminum, chlorine, calcium, bromine magnesium, phosphorus, scandium, and chromium. The current study complements other R. raetam extract investigations carried out in the past and provides the additional data for the future research studies

Stimulatory effects of Cuminum cyminum and flavonoid glycoside on Cyclosporine-A and restraint stress induced immune-suppression in Swiss albino mice

Many herbs and spices are known to modulate the immune system and have been shown to restore the immunity in immuno-compromised individuals. Spices generally used to increase the taste and flavor of food also has the history of usage as an ayurvedic medicine. Therefore to explore the health modulating effects of Cuminum cyminum and to identify the active compound, immunomodulatory properties were evaluated using flowcytometry and ELISA in normal and immune-suppressed animals. C. cyminum and compound 1 stimulated the T cells and Th1 cytokines expression in normal animals. Swiss albino mice subjected to Cyclosporine-A induced immune-suppression were dosed orally with C.cyminum(25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg)onconsecutive days. The resultsshowedthat administration significantly increased T cells(CD4 and CD8) count and Th1 predominant immune response in a dose dependent manner thereby suggesting immunomodulatory activity through modulation of T lymphocytes expression. In restraint stress induced immune-suppressed animals, compound 1 countered the depleted T lymphocytes, decreased the elevated corticosterone levels and size of adrenal glands and increased the weight of thymus and spleen.Based on the data we may conclude that C. cyminum is a potent immunomodulator and may develop as a lead to recover the immunity of immuno-compromised individuals

6α,7α-epoxy-5α,17α,dihydroxy-1-oxo-22R-witha-2,24-dienolide in leaves of Withania somnifera: Isolation and its crystal structure

6α,7α-epoxy-5α,17α,dihydroxy-1-oxo-22R-witha-2,24-dienolide (C28H38O6) was isolated from Withania somnifera leaves. The structure of the withanolide was established by spectral analysis and X-ray diffraction studies as withanone. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with unit cell parameters: a=9.191(10) A° , b=12.858(6) A° , c=21.400(16) A° , Z=4. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.0603 for 1742 observed reflections. There is positional disorder of the H atom in a hydroxy group (O5), resulting in two possible hydrogen-bond linkages. All the rings of the steroid skeleton are trans connected. Ring A exists in a half-chair conformation, ring B is intermediate between a half-chair and a sofa, ring C a distorted chair, and five-membered ring D is intermediate between a half-chair and an envelope. The δ-lactone ring E adopts a sofa conformation. The twist along the length of the steroid nucleus is negligible [C19–C10. . .C13–C18=1.8◦]. Both the hydroxy groups are involved in hydrogen bonding