Objective: Cyanobacteria are novel sources of bioactive substances with important biological activities. In this study, the total phenolic content (TPC) and bioactive (antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial) properties of a freshwater cyanobacteria, Chroococcus minutus were investigated.Material and Method: Methanol extract of C. minutus were prepared and subjected to different biological assays to determine the TPC, antioxidant, and alpha-glucosidase inhibition properties. The antibacterial activity was done using microtiter plate dilution assay against various medically important bacterial pathogens.Result and Discussion: C. minutus has a TPC of 11.27 ± 0.14 mg GAE/g. Antioxidant efficiency of C. minutus are characterized by having potent DPPH scavenging activity with IC50 value of 255 μg/ml. Assessment of alpha-glucosidase inhibition property showed that C. minutus extract have potent inhibition activity with IC50 of 5.50 μg/ml as compared to acarbose (standard antidiabetic drug). In addition, C. minutus extract exhibited potent antibacterial activities against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The current investigation shows the potential of C. minutus as source of active metabolites with important use in pharmaceutical applications.
Seaweeds are known sources of marine bioactive substances with diverse biological activities important in the synthesis of medically important novel drugs. The proximate and elemental compositions as well as bioactive properties of a brown macroalga, Sargassum aquifolium (Turner) C. Agardh, were studied. Results showed that proximate composition of S. aquifolium contain high carbohydrate (32.29 ± 0.17%) and ash (30.19 ± 0.14%) content. Elemental composition of the seaweed exhibited a decreasing order of Na > Ca > K > Mg > Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. The seaweed had a total phenolic content (TPC) of 5.74 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g. Antioxidant activities of S. aquifolium were characterized by having potent ABTS+ [2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid)] scavenging activity and high copper reduction capacity with IC50 value of 107 μg/mL and 21.01 μg/mL respectively. Evaluation of tyrosinase and elastase inhibition activities showed that S. aquifolium extract has potent inhibition activities with IC50 of 39.00 μg/mL and IC50 of 231.00 μg/mL, respectively – more effective than kojic acid and tocopherol. In addition, in vitro assessment of α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition property showed that S. aquifolium extract has potent inhibitory activity as compared to acarbose (standard anti-diabetic drug) with IC50 of 15.60 and 59.0 μg/mL, respectively. Also, the S. aquifolium extract exhibited effective antimicrobial activities against bacterial pathogens such as penicillin acylase-producing Bacillus cereus (MIC = 125 μg/mL), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (MIC = 250 μg/mL), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (MIC = 250 μg/mL), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC = 250 μg/ mL), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 500 μg/mL). The current investigation is a pioneering study in the Philippines that shows the potential of S. aquifolium as novel source of bioactive compounds with important use for pharmaceutical applications.
Seaweeds are marine organisms capable of producing diverse kinds of chemical compounds with promising pharmacological use. The study evaluated the proximate and elemental composition and the potential antioxidant (using CUPRAC, ABTS+, and DPPH assays) and antibacterial activities (using microtiter plate dilution assay) of Ulva prolifera O. F. Müller. The seaweed has a total phenolic content of 829 ± 2.00 mg GAE/g. Antioxidant efficiency of U. prolifera exerted high ability of reducing copper ions, potent ABTS+ and DPPH scavenging activities in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 value of 24.7 mg GAE/mL, 43.52 mg GAE/mL, and 54.1 mg GAE/mL, respectively, more effective than ascorbic acid. In vitro antibacterial activity assay showed that U. prolifera exhibited inhibitory activity against bacterial pathogens such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 125 mg/mL), S. epidermidis (MIC = 125 mg/mL), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (MIC = 500 mg/mL). This investigation is the first documented report regarding antibacterial activity of U. prolifera against P. fluorescens. In addition, results showed elemental composition to be in decreasing order of Ca K Mg Na Mn Fe Zn Cu Pb Cd Cr. Proximate composition of U. prolifera showed high carbohydrate and protein content with a percentage composition of 36.20 ± 0.27% and 23.72 ± 0.31% (dry weight), respectively. This study is the first report in the Philippines that shows the potential of U. prolifera as an excellent candidate organism as source of chemical compounds with relevant application to the pharmacological industry.
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