Antibacterial Effect of Persicaria thunbergii on Staphylococcus aureus

With the discovery of various antibiotic resistant bacteria, evaluations of antimicrobial activities of natural compounds have been preceded on antibiotic susceptible and resistant microorganisms. Several types of natural compounds have been reported to have similar effects on target microorganisms as compared to the widely used antibiotics. Persicaria thunbergii (Polygonaceae) has been known to have anti-tumoral, anti-angiogenesis, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation functions. In this study, aerial parts of P. thunbergii were extracted using methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate to identify possible anti-bacterial effects. Agar disk diffusion method and time-kill assay were done to evaluate the antibacterial effect of P. thunbergii extracts. Two extracts ethyl acetate (EAE), and chloroform (CFE) were tested against Staphylococcus aureus. As a result, the extract from CFE and EAE showed antibacterial effect against S. aureus. The extract EAE showed the strongest inhibition effect compared to CFE. These results demonstrate that the EAE extract which originated from P. thunbergii can probably play a role as an antibacterial agent

Effect of Bacillus subtilis Zeolite Used for Sediment Remediation on Sulfide, Phosphate, and Nitrogen Control in a Microcosm

Eutrophication is an emerging worldwide issue concerning the excessive accumulation of various pollutants in sediments, owing to the release of industrial or household wastewaters to coastal areas. The coastal sediment of Goseong Bay in the Republic of Korea is organically enriched with pollutants, including heavy metals, sulfide, phosphate, and ammonia. Microbial remediation and capping techniques have been suggested as effective routes for sediment remediation. In this study, Bacillus subtilis zeolite (BZ) was used as a sediment capping material, and effective remediation of coastal sediment was observed in a 40-day laboratory microcosm experiment. A significant decrease in the sediment water content and reduced concentration of acid volatile sulfide were observed in the BZ-capped sediment. In the overlying water and pore water, significant decreases in phosphate and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; NO2-N + NO3-N and NH4-N) concentrations were observed in the BZ-treated experiment. Based on our findings, we conclude that BZ could be an effective capping material for coastal sediment remediation

The complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA and phylogenetic analysis of the marine red alga Grateloupia elliptica (Rhodophyta: Halymeniales)

Grateloupia elliptica (Holmes, 1896) is a red alga belonging to the order Halymeniales and phylum Rhodophyta. In this study, the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of G. elliptica has been described. The complete circular mtDNA of G. elliptica was 28,503 bp in length, with an A + T content of 68.78%; it encoded a total of 49 genes, including 20 tRNA, three rRNA, and 26 protein-coding (CDS) genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete mitochondrial genomes revealed that G. elliptica was most closely related to G. angusta. The complete mitochondrial sequence of G. elliptica will enrich the mitochondrial genome database and provide useful resources for population genetics and evolution analyses

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of the marine red alga Polyopes affinis (Rhodophyta: Halymeniales)

Polyopes affinis ((Harvey) Kawaguchi & Wang, 2002) is a red alga in the order Halymeniales of the phylum Rhodophyta. The entire mitogenome of P. affinis was sequenced and compared to related Halymeniales species. The entire circular-mitogenome is 25,988 bp long, has 27.59% GC content, and comprises 25 protein-coding genes (CDS), 23 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and three ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. In terms of gene synteny and tRNA composition, the P. affinis mitogenome differs significantly from that of P. lancifolius. Phylogenetic analysis shows P. affinis mitogenome in a branch sister to P. lancifolius, indicating a close relationship with other Halymeniales species

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Aster incisus through the Inhibition of NF-κB, MAPK, and Akt Pathways in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Aster incisus is a common flower found in almost all regions of South Korea. In the current study, we investigated the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the Aster incisus methanol extract in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. We analyzed the phytochemicals contained in the extract by GC-MS. GC-MS results showed that the Aster incisus extract contains 9 known compounds. Later on, DPPH assay, WST-1 assay, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Western blot, and RT-PCR were conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract. Our WST-1 assay results revealed that Aster incisus did not affect the viability of all tested cell lines up to a concentration of 200 μg/ml; therefore, lower concentrations (50 μg/ml and 150 μg/ml) were used for further assays. Aster incisus scavenged DPPH and inhibited the production of NO. Aster incisus also reduced significantly the production of inflammation-related enzymes (iNOS, Cox-2) and cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6) and the gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, further Western blot results indicated that Aster incisus inhibited the expression of p-PI3K, p-IκBα, p-p65 NF-κB, p-ERK1/2, p-SAPK/JNK, and p-Akt. Our results demonstrated that Aster incisus suppressed the expression of the inflammation mediators through the regulation of NF-κB, MAPK, and Akt pathways

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of demersal flatfish Eopsetta grigorjewi (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) from South Korea

Eopsetta grigorjewi (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) is a demersal flatfish found in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and the Yellow Sea. E. grigorjewi complete mitochondrion DNA (mtDNA) consists of 16,921 bp and a 54% A + T content. It includes 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), 13 protein-coding genes, and 1 non-coding regulatory area. ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, ATPase6, and CytB all have incomplete stop codon genes. The evolutionary analysis of 13 species from the same family indicated a close relationship. This work will be valuable for future research on molecular evolution and the creation of biomarker databases for determining the originality of E. grigorjewi

Complete mitochondrial genome of marine Petrale sole Eopsetta jordani (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) flatfish

Petrale sole Eopsetta jordani (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) is a species of flounder, found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea of the United States and Canada. The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of E. jordani has 16,483 bp with an overall A + T content of 61% and consists of 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region. It has incomplete stop codon genes in ND2, COII, ATPase6, COIII, ND3, and ND4. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. jordani is not monophyletic with cogeneric Eopsetta grigorjewi and is separated from other species in the same family by a large distance. Present study results provide useful data for further research on genetic diversity and evolution of the Eopsetta and the Pleuronectidae

Complete mitochondrial genome of scorpionfish Scorpaena neglecta (Actinopterygii)

Scorpaena neglecta (Temminck and Schlegel, 1843) is a marine fish, in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes, class Actinopterygii of the phylum Chordata. The first species of Scorpaena with a complete mitochondrial genome is described in the present study. The circular mitochondrial genome of S. neglecta has 17,202 bp with 54.75% A + T content and encodes 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The phylogenetic tree indicates S. neglecta clustered into one branch and is closely related to other Scorpaenidae species. The mitochondrial genome structure and gene content of S. neglecta will support the study of evolution and phylogenetic relationships among Scorpaenidae species