No abstract

No abstract

An alkaline serine protease produced by Bacillus megaterium RRM2 isolated from the red alga, Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex Silva was studied for the first time and the same analyzed for the production of protease in the present study. Identification of the bacterium was done on the basis of both biochemical analysis and by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The extracellular protease obtained from B. megaterium RRM2 was purified by a three-step process involving ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration (Sephadex G100) and Q-Sepharose column chromatography. The purity was found to be 30.6-fold with a specific activity of 3591.5 U/mg protein with a molecular weight of 27 kDa. The metal ions Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+) and Na(+) marginally enhanced the activity of the purified enzyme while Hg(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(2+), CO(2+) and Zn(2+), had reduced the activity. The enzyme was found to be active in the pH range of 9.0-10.0 and remained active up to 60 °C. Phenyl Methyl Sulfonyl Fluoride (PMSF) inhibited the enzyme activity, thus, confirming that this enzyme is an alkaline serine protease. Likewise, DTT also inhibited the enzyme thus confirming the disulfide nature of the enzyme. The enzyme exhibited a high degree of tolerance to Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS). The partially purified protease when used as an additive in the commercial detergents was found to be a suitable source for washing clothes especially those stained with blood. Further, it showed good dehairing activity within a short duration in goat skin without affecting its collagen component.

No abstract

Identification of green algal genus Dunaliella by conventional method is hard target since the strains vary morphologically and physiologically with conditions of growth. In this study, a total of nine different isolates of Dunaliella isolated from the salt pans of Tamil Nadu, India, were identified based on their morphology and cultural characteristics. In addition, the isolates were subjected to molecular identification using genus specific and species specific primers which distinguished the discrepancy in the conventional identification. This study evidently reported the first occurrence of non carotenogenic strains (a new variety) of D. bardawil and D. parva in India.

No abstract

Natural antioxidants are found in algae, are important biologically active compounds that involve in protecting the cells from oxidation thereby used in defense mechanism on ageing processes and various diseases. In this study, R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE) was extracted from Spyridia filamentosa and was assessed for their antioxidant properties. The antioxidising property of decontaminated R-PE has been evaluated by measuring the free radical scavenging activity by DPPH radical scavenging assay, ABTS radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical (O2) scavenging assay, nitric oxide scavenging activity and phosphomolybdenum reduction assay. The purified R-PE extract was subjected to structural analysis by UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The UV-Visible spectrum showed a peak at 496 nm, 543 nm and 564 nm and fluorescence emission spectrum of R-PE was measured 575 nm which confirmed the presence of R-Phycoerythrin. The IR spectral data showed the presence of aromatic constituents containing amide group in the protein. DPPH radical scavenging assay showed the highest antioxidant potential with an IC50 value of 128.25 μg/ml. The radical scavenging activity of Nitric oxide showed an IC50 value of 87.85 μg/ml, Phosphomolybdenum reduction assay showed an RC50 value of 61.45 μg/ml. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity showed IC50 value of 34.56 μg/ml and Superoxide radical (O2) scavenging assay showed IC50 value of 18.58 μg/ml. The ABTS radical scavenging activity showed the lowest antioxidant potential of 3.13 μg/ml. The free radical scavenging property of R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE) concentrate of Spyridia filamentosa demonstrate that it has high antioxidant potency and it could be considered as utilitarian nourishment with essential pharmaceutical and biological importance.

Algae are ancient oxygen-producing photosynthetic organism that lives in water bodies all over the world. The algal biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem represents a new field of product discovery with the potential to manage human ailments. They are untapped resources, and in recent years, algal culture technology has been a business-oriented field owing to its diverse applications. The consumption of algae is traditional in human diets and dates back thousand years ago. The recent increasing algal demand is due to its safety and functional benefits. Algae are an edible source of food with potential therapeutic activities of anti-oxidant, antiobesity, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, which could be employed as medical ailments. Different types of algalderived bioactive compounds in a biological system are evidenced by in vitro and in vivo examinations. Raw algae or its compound are under a pipeline of market production due to their cultivable nature, which actually paves the way to generate larger business in the food and nutraceutical industry. This chapter summarizes several algal bioactive compounds with proven activities against metabolic disorders.