Biochemical indices (RNA/DNA ratio and protein content) in studying the nutritional status of Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus 1758) juveniles

In this work, we investigated the nutritional status of Ruditapes decussatus juveniles under different rearing conditions, using biochemical indices (RNA/DNA ratio and protein content) and the linear instantaneous growth rate (IGR). Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of starvation, addition of substrate (sand) as rearing support and diet composition on somatic growth and biochemical indices. Results show that biochemical indices of fed juveniles were significantly (P<0.05) higher. Highest RNA/DNA values and protein content were recorded in fed juveniles reared with substrate (P<0.05); conversely, lowest values were recorded in starved ones reared without substrate. In the second experiment, the highest RNA/DNA ratio was recorded in juveniles fed with control algal mixture composed of species commonly used in bivalve nurseries [Isochrysis galbana (clone T-Iso), Chaetoceros calcitrans and Tetraselmis suecica] and lowest in those fed with algal species isolated from Tunisian coasts. This confirms the usefulness of the RNA/DNA ratio and protein content in the clam's nutritional status evaluation. This assay is useful to provide information about the nutritional status and health of the clam in field conditions.     

Compositional analysis and in vivo anti-diabetic activity of wild Algerian Marrubium vulgare L. infusion

Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes in Algeria. Compositional analysis of the aqueous infusion revealed the presence of fifteen metabolites, all belonging to the class of polyphenols. Particularly, seven flavonoids have been detected, together with 5-caffeoylquinic (chlorogenic) acid in small amounts; the extract is dominated by the presence of a series of complex molecules, characterized as verbascoside (acteoside) derivatives. Concerning the anti-diabetic effectiveness a series of in vivo experiments were carried out on albinos Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in the animals by intra-peritoneal injection of alloxane; they were treated twice a day with aqueous extract from aerial part infusion (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide (5mg/kg body weight) for 15 days. Oral administration of 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract the Marrubium vulgare induced an significant effect antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic (dose-dependent effect). A decrease in blood glucose by 50% for the dose 100 mg/kg and more than 60% for doses 200 and 300 mg/kg, as well as a significant lowering of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels in treated animals, compared with diabetic controls group (p<0.001), have been observed. Glibenclamide was used as reference and showed similar effects.     

Changes in fatty acids profile,monosaccharide profile and protein content during batch growth of Isochrysis galbana (T.iso)

To investigate the nutritional value of the marine micro‐alga Isochrysis galbana Tahitian Isochrysis strain (T.iso) as an alternative feed for aquaculture during culture age, its biochemical composition was studied under autotrophic and controlled culture conditions at different growth stages: exponential phase, early and late stationary phases and decay phase. Analysis showed that C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:4 (n‐3) and C22:6 (n‐3) were the most abundant fatty acids in this alga at different growth stages. The highest values of monounsaturated fatty acids were recorded at the late stationary and the decay phases. However, the highest levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids were observed at the early stationary phase. At all growth stages, I. galbana (T.iso) contained arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose. Glucose represented the main sugar, and its content per dry alga biomass weight increased with increasing age of the culture and reached about fourfold in the decay phase. The maximum protein content was also observed during this last phase.     

Antifungal activity of resveratrol oligomers from Cyphostemma crotalarioides

Resveratrol and its oligomers: ε-viniferine, gnetin C, Pallidol and gnetin E, as well as three new dehydrodimers, cyphostemmines A–C, have been isolated from the roots of Cyphostemma crotalarioides (Ampelidaceae). Such compounds have not been reported previously in the family Ampelidaceae. Cis ε-viniferin has also been characterized as a minor component of the extract; it may have undergone partial transformation in solution into trans ε-viniferin. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Molecular polymorphism of cytoplasmic DNA in Ficus carica L.: Insights from non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA

The trnL (UAA) intron and the intergenic spacer between the 3′ exon of trnL (UAA) and trnF (GAA) sequences were used as genetic markers for differentiating Ficus carica cultivars and establishing refined genetic relationships. The study was based on 20 fig cultivars, collected from south and centre of Tunisia. Since, the intron was thought to be more variable among close relatives than is the chloroplast spacer. The size of these non-coding regions varied from 554 to 589 and from 989 to 1022 bases pairs for the intron and the combined sequences correspondingly. The average of GC content was 33.9% and 34.6% in the intron and the combined intron and spacer respectively. High values of A + T contents were detected in both data sets and may explain the high proportions of transversions founded. The observed variation pattern of plastid DNA provides evidence of an important genetic diversity. The overall transition/transversion bias (R) was 0.202 in the intron and 0.27 in the combined regions. The RI index of 0.592 indicates that these combined sequences have clearly more homoplasy then the intron (RI = 0.705) and spacer (RI = 0.777) sequences separately. Phylogenetic trees were generated based on maximum parsimony (MP) and neighbor-joining (NJ) analysis of the chloroplast sequences data. Results proved that a typically continuous genetic diversity characterizes the local fig germplasm. In fact, relationships inferred from the cpDNA analysis suggest several clades, which do not show geographical or tree sex correspondence. Although the level of apparent diversity is considerable, we may conclude that non-coding regions of chloroplast genome provide a new and practical opportunity to evaluate genetic diversity and to discriminate fig cultivars. Revealed cytoplasmic DNA markers are reliable to elaborate a molecular data base to conduct management and breeding programs on local fig germplasm.     

Potential of Aquatic Macrophytes as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Pollution in Urban Stormwater Runoff

The concentrations of heavy metals in water, sediments, soil, roots, and shoots of five aquatic macrophytes species (Oenanthe sp., Juncus sp., Typha sp., Callitriche sp.1, and Callitriche sp.2) collected from a detention pond receiving stormwater runoff coming from a highway were measured to ascertain whether plants organs are characterized by differential accumulations and to evaluate the potential of the plant species as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in urban stormwater runoff. Heavy metals considered for water and sediment analysis were Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As. Heavy metals considered for plant and soil analysis were Cd, Ni, and Zn. The metal concentrations in water, sediments, plants, and corresponding soil showed that the studied site is contaminated by heavy metals, probably due to the road traffic. Results also showed that plant roots had higher metal content than aboveground tissues. The floating plants displayed higher metal accumulation than the three other rooted plants. Heavy metal concentrations measured in the organs of the rooted plants increased when metal concentrations measured in the soil increased. The highest metal bioconcentration factors (BCF) were obtained for cadmium and nickel accumulation by Typha sp. (BCF = 1.3 and 0.8, respectively) and zinc accumulation by Juncus sp. (BCF = 4.8). Our results underline the potential use of such plant species for heavy metal biomonitoring in water, sediments, and soil.     

Optimization of lipase-catalyzed synthesis of acetylated tyrosol by response surface methodology

The ability of a noncommercial immobilized lipase from Staphylococcus xylosus (SXLi) to catalyze the transesterification of tyrosol and ethyl acetate was investigated. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effects of the temperature (40-60 degrees C), the enzyme amount (50-500 UI), and the ethyl acetate/hexane volume ratio (0.2-1) on the tyrosol acetylation conversion yield. Two independent replicates were carried out under the optimal conditions predicted by the model (reaction temperature 54 degrees C, enzyme amount 500 UI, and volume ratio ethyl acetate/hexane 0.2). The maximum conversion yield reached 95.36 +/- 3.6%, which agreed with the expected value (96.8 +/- 3.7%). The ester obtained was characterized by spectroscopic methods. Chemical acetylation of tyrosol was performed, and the products were separated using HPLC. Among the eluted products from HPLC, mono- and diacetylated derivatives were identified by positive mass spectrometry. Tyrosol and its monoacetylated derivative exert similar antiradicalar activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyle.     

Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat fingerprints to assess genetic diversity in Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) germplasm

The genetic diversity of 18 Tunisian fig cultivars was investigated at the DNA level using the Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) associated with the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Using a set of primers, the most informative ones were selected that were characterized by an important Resolving power value of 29.6. A total of 47 discernible fragments were scored from samples, with a mean of 11.7 fragments per primer. The 90.4% of sample that were polymorphic were scored as molecular markers to examine the Tunisian fig germplasm polymorphism at DNA level. A large genetic diversity as related to ISSR patterns was found within the local Tunisian fig germplasm. An UPGMA dendrogram exhibits the unstructured variability in this crop. Moreover, the principal component analysis shows that the observed diversity was typically continuous. Our data provide a large number of ISSR markers that are useful in the fingerprinting of Ficus carica L. cultivars, and in the understanding of the genetic relationships among these accessions.