Proximate biochemical composition and mineral content of edible species from the genus Cystoseira in Portugal

Macroalgae are valuable resources for human consumption in many countries. This work reports for the first time a comparative evaluation of the nutritional properties of five edible macroalgae from the genus Cystoseira, namely C. humilis, C. tamariscifolia, C. nodicaulis, C. compressa and C. baccata. For this purpose, their proximate composition was determined in terms of moisture, ash, and total contents of protein, lipids, carbohydrates and mineral profile. Cystoseira tamariscifolia and C. baccata were the species that in general had the higher ash, protein and lipid contents, while the highest levels of moisture and total carbohydrates were detected in C. nodicaulis and C. compressa. Cystoseira species had also high amounts of minerals, especially of potassium, calcium and iron, and a favorable Na/K ratio. The present study shows that Cystoseira has a balanced nutritional composition, suitable for human consumption, and that its intake can contribute to a healthy and well-balanced diet

Isololiolide, a carotenoid metabolite isolated from the brown alga Cystoseira tamariscifolia, is cytotoxic and able to induce apoptosis in hepatocarcinoma cells through caspase-3 activation, decreased Bcl-2 levels, increased p53 expression and PARP cleavage

Background: Brown macroalgae have attracted attention because they display a wide range of biological activities, including antitumoral properties. In this study we isolated isololiolide from Cystoseira tamariscifolia for the first time.Purpose: To examine the therapeutical potential of isololiolide against tumor cell lines.Methods/Study design: The structure of the compound was established and confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR as well as HRMS spectral analysis. The in vitro cytotoxicity was analyzed by colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in tumoral as well as in non-tumoral cell lines. Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. Alteration of expression levels in proteins important in the apoptotic cascade was analyzed by western blotting.Results: Isololiolidewas isolated for the first time from the brown macroalga C. tamariscifolia. Isololiolide exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against three human tumoral cell lines, namely hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells, whereas no cytotoxicity was found in non-malignant MRC-5 and HFF-1 human fibroblasts. Isololiolide completely disrupted the HepG2 normal cell cycle and induced significant apoptosis. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that isololiolide altered the expression of proteins that are important in the apoptotic cascade, increasing PARP cleavage and p53 expression while decreasing procaspase-3 and Bcl-2 levels.Conclusion: Isololiolide isolated from C. tamariscifolia is able to exert a selective cytotoxic activity on hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells as well as induce apoptosis through the modulation of apoptosis-related proteins. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Models for preclinical studies in aging-related disorders: one is not for all

Preclinical studies are essentially based on animal models of a particular disease. The primary purpose of preclinical efficacy studies is to support generalization of treatment–effect relationships to human subjects. Researchers aim to demonstrate a causal relationship between an investigational agent and a disease-related phenotype in such models. Numerous factors can muddle reliable inferences about such causeeffect relationships, including biased outcome assessment due to experimenter expectations. For instance, responses in a particular inbred mouse might be specific to the strain, limiting generalizability. Selecting well-justified and widely acknowledged model systems represents the best start in designing preclinical studies, especially to overcome any potential bias related to the model itself. This is particularly true in the research that focuses on aging, which carries unique challenges, mainly attributable to the fact that our already long lifespan makes designing experiments that use people as subjectsextremely difficult and largely impractical

In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Limonium algarvense flowers' infusions and decoctions: A comparison with green tea (Camellia sinensis)

This work reports the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and toxicity of infusions and decoctions of Limonium algarvense flowers, and green tea. The total contents in different phenolic groups and the quantification of individual phenolics by HPLC are also reported. L. algarvense and green tea had similar antioxidant properties, except for hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity, higher on green tea, and iron chelating potential, higher on L. algarvense. The later species also had the uppermost anti-inflammatory potential. Green tea decoction had the highest content of phenolic groups, but the infusion of L. algarvense had higher amounts of salicylic, gallic and coumaric acids. L. algarvense was not toxic, whereas green tea was toxic for S17 cells. Under our experimental conditions, infusions and decoctions of L. algarvense flowers had similar or higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than green tea, and thus, may be useful for alleviating symptoms associated with oxidative and inflammatory-related diseases. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Bioactivity studies and chemical profile of the antidiabetic plant Genista tenera

Aim of the study: Genista tenera is a plant endemic to the island of Madeira and is used in folk medicine to control diabetes. In the present work we evaluate the anti hyperglycaemic activity of its n-butanol extract and determine its chromatographic prof. - The British Council and the Ministerio da Ciencia e do Ensino Superior ; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia ; Thermo Finnigan's ; Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund ; RSC Analytical Division ; EPSRC ; Rodrigues and Emma Edwards from the University of York. - The authors thank The British Council and the Ministerio da Ciencia e do Ensino Superior for financial support and Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia for a grant. Jane Thomas-Oates gratefully acknowledges Thermo Finnigan's support and funding from the