The Effect of Crude Extract of Turbo coronatus from the Persian Gulf on Serum Biochemical Parameters and Hematiological Parameters of Rats

Background: Turbotoxins are marine secondary metabolites that produce in Turbinidae family and were isolated from Japanese Turbo marmorata for the first time. A few research has been done on these metabolites so far. Another species, Turbo coronatus exists in Iran. The main aim of the current project was to investigate some biological effects of the crude extract of Turbo coronatus from the Persian Gulf . Materials and methods: In this study, 18 rats were selected in three groups including the control group. The experimental groups received ½ and 1/3 lethal doses intravenously and serum levels of liver and muscle enzymes, electrolytes and complete blood counts (CBC) were measured after 24 hours. Results: The levels of liver and muscle enzymes, amylase, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, ferrous, haptoglobin, albumin and creatinine were significantly increased in experimental group compared with the control group by injection of crude extract of Turbo coronatus; however, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red blood cell count, magnesium, and glucose levels were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusions: Intravenous injection of ½ and 1/3 lethal doses of the crude extract of Turbo coronatus to rats produced rhabdomyolysis and hepatocytes injury. In addition, the crude extract injection acted as a haematoxin and decreased hemoglobin and MCV

Feeding habits of striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens (Forsskal, 1775) (Haemulidae) in northern part of the Persian Gulf

Feeding habits of Pomadasys stridens were studied in northern part of the Persian Gulf. A total of 591 specimens were collected from the coastal water of Bushehr Province using trawl boats from May 2012 to April 2013 and diet composition, feeding intensity and season changes in diet composition were investigated. Vacuity Index was 81% during the study. RGL was 0.98±0.03 classifying this species as carnivorous to omnivorous fish. Pomadasys stridens had consumed 48 different food categories in 7 taxonomic classes. Crustacean, Mollusca, foraminifera, nematodes, Echinodermata, Annelida and miscellaneous were the main observed food items. There was no significant difference between males and females regarding diet composition in different months

Determination of Fatty Acids Profile and Physicochemical Study of Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca) Oil from Bushehr City Coasts

Background: Sea lettuce is a kind green alga with scientific name "Ulva lactuca", has many uses in many countries. With Notice to the presence of this alga in the coasts of Bushehr and its ease of propagation and cultivation, we can take advantage of beneficial interest. The objectives of this current study was to determine the amount of total fat, survey the quality and quantity of some physicochemical parameters and the profile of fatty acids in its oil. Materials and Methods: After samples collecting of sea lettuce (Sea lettuce) from Bushehr coasts, sample preparation and extraction of fat, quantity of some physicochemical parameters according to AOAC method; and fatty acid profile were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Results: The acidity index in extracted oil in Shoraye-shahr, Bandargah and Naftkesh regions were, 0.73, 0.73 and 0.72 respectively, and the peroxide value was 0.75, 0.74 and 0.75 respectively. The refractive index and average oil contents for all areas were reported 3 % and 1412, respectively. In the three mentioned regions, sixteen fatty acids including (C6), (C10), (C12), (C13), (C14), (C15), (C16), (C17), (C18), (C19), (C20), (C21), (C18: 1), (C18: 2), (C18: 3) were identified with different amounts. Palmitic acid had the highest levels in all three regions. Conclusion: Sea lettuce contains different fatty acids that each of them has different applications in food industry, medicine and cosmetics. The favorable amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the sea lettuce oil increase their nutritional importance. Caltivating of this beneficial alga is suggested due to the appropriate geographic climate of Bushehr

Antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties of Echinometra mathaei and Ophiocoma erinaceus venoms from the Persian Gulf

Introduction: The Persian Gulf is home to a diverse range of marine life, including various species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms. This study investigates the potential therapeutic properties of venoms from echinoderms in the Persian Gulf, specifically their ability to inhibit cholinesterases (Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) and act as antioxidants.Methods: Four venoms from two echinoderm species, including the spine, gonad, and coelomic fluids of sea urchins, as well as brittle star venoms, were analyzed using various methods, including LD50 determination, protein analysis, antioxidant assays, GC-MS for secondary metabolite identification, and molecular docking simulations.Results and discussion: The study’s results revealed the LD50 of the samples as follows: 2.231 ± 0.09, 1.03 ± 0.05, 1.12 ± 0.13, and 6.04 ± 0.13 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the protein levels were 44.037 ± 0.002, 74.223 ± 0.025, 469.97 ± 0.02, and 104.407 ± 0.025 μg/mL, respectively. SDS-PAGE and total protein studies indicated that at least part of the venom was proteinaceous. Furthermore, the study found that the brittle star samples exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to other samples, including the standard ascorbic acid, at all tested concentrations. GC-MS analysis identified 12, 23, 21, and 25 compounds in the samples, respectively. These compounds had distinct chemical and bioactive structures, including alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids.Conclusion: These venoms displayed strong cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities, likely attributed to their protein content and the presence of alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids. Notably, the alkaloid compound C7 was identified as a promising candidate for further research in Alzheimer’s disease therapy. In conclusion, echinoderms in the Persian Gulf may hold significant potential for discovering novel therapeutic agents

Indicator bacteria community in seawater and coastal sediment: the Persian Gulf as a case.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The aim of present work was to assess the concentration levels as well as vertical distribution of indicator bacteria including total coliform, fecal coliform, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) in the marine environment (seawater and coastal sediments) and evaluate the correlation between indicator bacteria and some physicochemical parameters of surface sediments as well as seawaters. METHODS: A total number of 48 seawater and sediment samples were taken from 8 stations (each site 6 times with an interval time of 2 weeks) between June and September 2014. Seawater and sediment samples were collected from 30 cm under the surface samples and different sediment depths (0, 4, 7, 10, 15, and 20 cm) respectively, along the Persian Gulf in Bushehr coastal areas. RESULTS: Based on the results, the average numbers of bacterial indicators including total coliform, fecal coliform, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as HPC in seawater samples were 1238.13, 150.87, 8.22 MPN/100 ml and 1742.91 CFU/ml, respectively, and in sediment samples at different depths (from 0-20 cm) varied between 25 × 103 to 51.67 × 103, 5.63 × 103 to 12.46 × 103, 17.33 to 65 MPN/100 ml, 36 × 103 to 147.5 × 103 CFU/ml, respectively. There were no statistically significant relationships between the indicator organism concentration levels with temperature as well as pH value of seawater. A reverse correlation was found between the level of indicator bacteria and salinity of seawater samples. Also results revealed that the sediment texture influenced abundance of indicators bacteria in sediments. As the concentration levels of indicators bacteria were higher in muddy sediments compare with sandy ones. CONCLUSION: Result conducted Bushehr coastal sediments constitute a reservoir of indicator bacteria, therefore, whole of the indicators determined were distinguished to be present in higher levels in sediments than in the overlying seawater. It was concluded that the concentration levels of microbial indicators decreased with depth in sediments. Except total coliform, the numbers of other bacteria including fecal coliform, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and HPC bacteria significantly declined in the depth between 10 and 15 cm

Sea urchin: toxinology, bioactive compounds and its treatment management

Background: The sea urchins are classified in the echinoderms category because of their spiny skin. Saponins are the major responsible metabolites for Echinodermata biological activities . As mentioned before, about 80 species of sea urchins are venomous for human. Their spine, pedicellariae, and some other organs such as gonads and coelomic fluids contain different toxins and bioactive compounds. This review study have evaluated toxinology and bioactive compounds from the extracts, and treatment management of these venomous animals. Results: Contractin A, echinochrome A, echinometrin, major yolk protein (MYP), centrocins (I, II(, cathepsin B/X, strongylostatins (I,II), vitellogenin, UT841 toxin, spinochrome, and pedoxin as the prosthetic group of peditoxin are the most important compounds obtained from these animals. Some people show poisoning symptoms following the ingestion of sea urchin gonads, especially during the breeding season. Some of these symptoms included allergies symptoms, as the first symptoms, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, epigastric distress, severe headache, swelling of the lips and mouth, salivation, abdominal pain and some systemic symptoms such as hypotension, numbness and weakness. The most injuries by sea urchin can cause by contact to spines, which can create the various complications such as granuloma, synovitis, arthritis, edema, hyperkeratosis and even neuroma. Injuries by pedicellaria may cause severe pain, local edema, bleeding, lethargy, weakness, tingling, joint pain, aphonia, dizziness, syncope, general muscle paralysis, respiratory distress, hypotension and, infrequently death. After the injury by sea urchin, removing the spines and pedicellariae should be done to minimize the contact with the venom source, and subsequently the management of wounds and poisoning symptoms, as quickly as possible. Conclusion: The venoms of some sea urchins have toxins and bioactive molecules that produce toxicity effects on their victims by a variety of mechanisms. Despite the various studies in toxinology field, on these animals, the comprehensive studies that led to the identification of pure toxins from their crude venoms are handful and unfinished and it is important to do further studies on this field, in the future

The Sea, the Future Pharmacy

Background: The oceans as ‘mother of origin of life’ are a unique source that provide a various collection of natural products from sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, algae and molluscs as well as cyanobacteria and the other marine organisms. In the past few decades, a significant number of marine natural products with potent pharmacological properties have been discovered from these organisms. Here, we evaluate the history of drug discovery and theire development, from sea natural compounds, providing an outlook into the future. Material and Methods: For our aims, we collected the data for this review by searcheing pubmed (in 2014. 26.06), Marine Lit in addition to archives of ISMJ site through google. Search terms were “marine venoms to drugs” and “marine bioactive compounds” for pubmed, and a total of 69 papers were found, that 50 more related articles were selected. From Search terms of “marine bioactive compounds to drugs” and “marine bioactive compounds” in Marine Lit were obtained, 67 and 105 English-language papars, respectevily that in the end 99 articles were selected. In addition from search for “marine bioactive compounds in bpums or ISMJ” 11 related publications were selected. Results: At the present time, specific bioactive compounds such as cytarabine are accessible in market some of them are present in different phases of the clinical trials, Phase I, Phase II or Phase III , as wll as in the preclinical pipeline, or either expected to be approved soon. Many marine products are useful for cancer, chronic pains, infectious diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), arthritis, inflammations, and the other therapeutic paybacks. Conclusion: The authors believe that the sea can be a promising drug discovery for patients who have disappointed and give up of land resources. History of these compounds shows that initial efforts that led to the isolation of active compounds can be the start point for the next stage of their development. Therefore, any research with a certain purpose, though seemingly small, can be a preface to the discovery of a new drug. A comparison as the antiquity of a few decades the pharmaceutical science with marine resources, than their several thousand years antiquity in the mainland, Can guess “What has accelerated the speed of their progress”

Effects of physicochemical factors on seasonal variations of phytoplankton in the Mond River Estuary of Bushehr Province, Persian Gulf, Iran

Abstract. Pouladi M, Qadermarzi A, Baharvand F, VazirizadehA, Hedayati A. 2017. Effects of physicochemical factors on seasonal variations of phytoplankton in the Mond River Estuary of Bushehr Province, Persian Gulf, Iran. Biodiversitas 18: 229-237. The main purpose of present study was to investigate the abundance and biodiversity of phytoplankton from Mond estuary, Bushehr, Persian Gulf during different seasons and its relationships with environmental parameters and nutrients. Samples were taken in mid-season from spring 2012 to winter 2013 for oneyear period. The phytoplankton were contributed by the phyla Bacillariophyta, Dinophyta, Haptophyta, and Chlorophyta. The class Coscinodiscophyceae and Bacillariophyceae belonging to Bacillariophyta were the most diverse and dominant with 22 and 16 genera, respectively. The mean phytoplankton abundance were recorded in spring (12706.7±3586.9 cells L-1), in summer (10173.3±2560.08 cells L-1), in autumn (10600±2758.2 cells L-1) and in winter (7000±2401.6 cells L-1), respectively. Simpson and Shannon-Wiener biodiversity indices obtained showed in spring (0.93±0.007 and 3.8±0.2), in summer (0.92±0.008 and 3.64±0.2), in autumn (0.92±0.006 and 3.63±0.15) and in winter (0.89±0.013 and 3.07±0.24), respectively. The phytoplankton assemblages were most diverse and abundant at station-5 in all seasons. In addition, there were significant correlation (P<0.01) between phytoplankton abundance and diversity with pH, salinity, NO3, PO4 and temperature. Based on Principle Component Analysis (PCA), the most important factors that could describe most changes of abundance and diversity of phytoplankton in the Mond River estuary system were salinity, NO3, pH, PO4 and temperature, respectively. Results demonstrated that diatoms were the dominant population and salinity factor was more effective factor that affected the diversity and abundance of phytoplankton during study period in Mond River estuary. Keywords: Abundance, Bushehr, diversity, Mond River Estuary, phytoplankton, Persian Gul

Neurotoxic Syndromes in Marine Poisonings a Review

Background: Marine neurotoxins as of Marine biotoxins are natural toxins that produced mainly by dinoflagellates, diatoms and several species of invertebrates and fish. Marine poisoning results from the ingestion of marine animals contain these toxins and causes considerable adverse effects. Materials and methods: This review provides some facts about the structures of marine neurotoxins, their molecular target and pharmacology, analytical methods for their detection and quantitation, diagnosis and laboratory testing, clinical manifestations, as well as prevention and treatment, if were obtainable. Furthermore, we focus on marine poisoning and various associated neurological syndromes like ciguatera, tetrodotoxin poisoning, and paralytic shellfish poisoning, after ingestion of the common marine toxins. Results: A number of neurotoxins that prescribed according to their potency (LD50) are: Maitotoxin, Ciguatoxins and Palytoxin, Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxin, Brevetoxins, Azaspiracid, Yessotoxin, Cooliatoxin, Domoic acid and Conotoxins, Respectively. The primary target of most marine neurotoxins is voltage gated sodium channels and the resulting block of ion conductance through these channels. Moreover, these compounds interact with voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels and modulate the flux of stated ions into many cell types. As well, the target recognized for palytoxin is the Na+- K+ /ATPase. Conclusion: Results of reviewed studies revealed that, the Ciguatera is the commonest syndrome of marine poisoning, but is rarely lethal. Puffer fish poisoning results from the ingestion of fish containing tetrodotoxin and paralytic shellfish poisoning are less common, but have a higher fatality rate than ciguatera. Despite their high toxicity, no much research has been done on some of the toxins, like maitotoxin. In addition, there have remained unknown the pharmacological effects, mechanism of action and molecular target of some toxins such as Cooliatoxin and Ostreotoxins, Which could be the subject of the research in Future, or perhaps a new generation of drugs