A B S T R A C TBackground: Ulva genus, an edible seaweed, and an important food source in many south-east Asian countries is also recognized by its synonymous name as Enteromorpha. Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate antioxidant activity, contents of total phenolics, and flavonoids of methanolic extracts of edible green seaweeds including Ulva clathrata (Roth) C. Agardh and three samples of Ulva prolifera O.F.Müller grown at different parts of Bushehr Province along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf. Materials and Methods: The seaweeds were collected from Bordekhoun, Northern Ouli, Taheri and Kangan coasts in December 2011. Methanolic extracts of the seaweeds were assessed for their antioxidant activity using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and was performed in a microplate reader. Total phenolics were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and flavonoid content was evaluated by colorimetric method. Results: All samples showed antioxidant activity to various degrees. Ulva clathrata exhibited a high DPPH radical scavenging activity with a low IC 50 (the half-maximal inhibitory concentration) (0.715 ± 0.078 mg. mL

A B S T R A C TBackground: Ulva genus, an edible seaweed, and an important food source in many south-east Asian countries is also recognized by its synonymous name as Enteromorpha. Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate antioxidant activity, contents of total phenolics, and flavonoids of methanolic extracts of edible green seaweeds including Ulva clathrata (Roth) C. Agardh and three samples of Ulva prolifera O.F.Müller grown at different parts of Bushehr Province along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf. Materials and Methods: The seaweeds were collected from Bordekhoun, Northern Ouli, Taheri and Kangan coasts in December 2011. Methanolic extracts of the seaweeds were assessed for their antioxidant activity using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and was performed in a microplate reader. Total phenolics were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and flavonoid content was evaluated by colorimetric method. Results: All samples showed antioxidant activity to various degrees. Ulva clathrata exhibited a high DPPH radical scavenging activity with a low IC 50 (the half-maximal inhibitory concentration) (0.715 ± 0.078 mg. mL

The antioxidant activity and the contents of total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified in the methanolic extracts of four Chaetomorpha species including C. aerea, C. crassa, C. linum and C. brachygona.

Melanogenesis is a biological process which led to the synthesis of melanin pigment. Abnormal melanin production results in melasma, solar lentigo, post inflammatory melanoderma, etc. In this study, we examined the potential inhibitory effects of 17 brown macroalgae from Persian Gulf on melanogenesis. The effects of various concentrations (100, 250 and 500 µg/mL) of methanolic extracts of macroalgae belonging to four genera (including: Padina, Colpomonia, Cystoseira and Sargassum) were studied on oxidation of L-Dopa by mushroom tyrosinase. Subsequently, the activity of macroalgae with high HIGHLIGHTS • P. boergesenii exhibited higher in vitro anti-tyrosinase activity compared to other algae. • P. boergesenii inhibited melanin synthesis higher in comparison to other tested algae. • The type of algae, place and time of collection can affect the inhibitory activities. Namjooyan, F.; et al.

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Silybum marianum seeds contain a family of flavonolignans which can regulate cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, research has rarely focused on the effect of S. marianum essential oil in combination with another anticancer drug. Here, we evaluated the antitumor effect of a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and S. marianum essential oils on some pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo. Gas chromatography-mass spectrography results indicated there was no significant difference between the components of essential oils isolated from two geographical areas (Khuzestan or Isfahan, Sm-K or Sm-I). Each preparation decreased the viability of H22 cells compared to the control group. S. marianum essential oils alone, and combined with 5-FU, reduced the migration and invasion of H22 cells. Angiogenesis-related proteins were significantly reduced both in vivo and in vitro. Apoptosis and autophagy-related proteins were modulated both in vivo and in vitro. Each treatment decreased phospho-NF-κB (p65) and NF-κB (p65) protein levels. Expression levels of Wnt pathway-related genes were also decreased both in vivo and in vitro. Results revealed that the combination of S. marianum and 5-FU prolonged survival in a mouse model of HCC compared to either treatment alone.