The objectives of this study were to record the macromedusae species on the north coast of Santa Catarina, and to estimate their population dynamics and variations in their biochemical composition, based on the specimens obtained in the by-catch of artisanal shrimp fishing between January 2012 and October 2014. Cohort analysis was performed to evaluate the population dynamic of the most frequent species. Biochemical analyses of the umbrellas were conducted on their water, carbohydrate, protein, lipid, ash and metals contents. Six species of macromedusae were found: Chiropsalmus quadrumanus and Tamoya haplonema (Cubozoa); Olindias sambaquiensis and Rhacostoma atlanticum (Hydrozoa), and Chrysaora lactea and Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa). The species with the highest occurrence, and typical of the region, were Olindias sambaquiensis and Rhacostoma atlanticum. These species showed high inter-year variability, the highest densities being observed between autumn and winter 2014, associated with a less severe winter and coastal water with higher salinity. The distribution of size classes of O. sambaquiensis suggests two welldefined cohorts in spring/summer and in autumn/winter. R. atlanticum showed continuous reproduction and inter-year variation but a high value for protein content related to the reproductive peak in autumn. However, the Cubozoa species showed higher organic matter and metal content than the other classes. AbstrAct

Polysaccharides with medicinal properties can be obtained from fruiting bodies, mycelium and culture broth of several fungus species. This work was carried out in batch culture using a stirred tank reactor with two different initial glucose concentrations (40–50 g/L) and pH values (3.0–4.0) to enhance extracellular polysaccharides production by Pleurotus djamor UNIVILLE 001 and evaluate antitumor effect of intraperitonial administration of Pleurotus djamor extract on sarcoma 180 animal model. According to factorial design, the low pH value (pH 3.0) led to a gain of 1.6 g/L on the extracellular polysaccharide concentration, while glucose concentration in the tested range had no significant effect on the concentration of polysaccharide. With 40 g/L initial glucose concentration and pH 3.0, it was observed that yield factor of extracellular polysaccharide on substrate (YP/S = 0.072) and maximum extracellular polysaccharide productivity (QPmax = 11.26 mg/L.h) were about 188% and 321% respectively higher than those obtained in the experiment performed at pH 4.0. Under these conditions, the highest values of the yield factor of biomass on substrate (YX/S = 0.24) and maximal biomass productivity (QXmax = 32.2 mg/L.h) were also reached. In tumor response study, mean tumor volume on the 21th day was 35.3 cm3 in untreated group and 1.6 cm3 in treated group (p = 0.05) with a tumor inhibition rate of 94%. These impressive results suggests an inhibitory effect of P.djamor extract on cancer cells.

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Background: Olindias sambaquiensis, the most abundant species of jellyfish along the southern coast of Brazil, frequently stings bathers during the summer months, when the occurrence of this species usually reaches a peak. Objective: As jellyfish are rich in protein and carbohydrates, and as these biomolecules could provide a natural defense against stings, this study investigates whether any of the components present in the umbrella of jellyfish species occurring in the south of Brazil can inhibit the nematocyst discharge of the tentacles of 0. sambaquiensis. Methods: Sting tests were conducted in humans, with live tentacles of O. sambaquiensis, to evaluate different lyophilized extracts of different exumbrellar jellyfish tissues obtained at different times of the year to determine their capacity to reduce pain and alter skin color. Results: Of all the species of jellyfish used in this study (O. sambaquiensis, Chiropsalmus quadrumanus and Tamoya haplonema), only the lyophilized extract of the cubozoa C. quadrumanus umbrella showed the capacity to inhibit the pain associated with nematocyst stings. Conclusion: Tests on a lyophilized extract obtained from organisms caught in summer and winter suggested that the biomolecule responsible for the biological activity is carbohydrate since this biomolecule would signal the recognition of the species.