Fucoidan from marine brown algae inhibits lipid accumulation

In this study, we elucidated the inhibitory effect of fucoidan from marine brown algae on the lipid accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and its mechanism. The treatment of fucoidan in a dose-dependent manner was examined on lipid inhibition in 3T3-L1 cells by using Oil Red O staining. Fucoidan showed high lipid inhibition activity at 200 μg/mL concentration (P < 0.001). Lipolytic activity in adipocytes is highly dependent on hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), which is one of the most important targets of lipolytic regulation. Here, we examined the biological response of fucoidan on the protein level of lipolysis pathway. The expressed protein levels of total hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and its activated form, phosphorylated-HSL were significantly increased at concentration of 200 μg/mL fucoidan. Furthermore, insulin-induced 2-deoxy-D-[3H] glucose uptake was decreased up to 51% in fucoidan-treated cells as compared to control. Since increase of HSL and p-HSL expression and decrease of glucose uptake into adipocytes are known to lead to stimulation of lipolysis, our results suggest that fucoidan reduces lipid accumulation by stimulating lipolysis. Therefore, these results suggest that fucoidan can be useful for the prevention or treatment of obesity due to its stimulatory lipolysis.     

光照强度及附植藻类对狐尾藻生理指标的影响

为研究沉水植物在富营养化水体中的衰退机理,以沉水植物狐尾藻为研究对象,进行为期四周的室内模拟实验,探究10%(39.6~75.6μmol·m-2·s-1)、50%(104.4~140.4μmol·m-2·s-1)及100%(210.2~230.4μmol·m-2·s-1)自然光以及附植藻类对狐尾藻叶片叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量以及抗氧化保护酶(SOD)活性等生理指标的影响。结果表明:狐尾藻叶片叶绿素含量随光照强度的增强而下降,MDA含量随光照强度的增强而增加,SOD活性及可溶性蛋白含量先随光照强度的增强而上升,试验末期随光照强度的增强而下降;在相同的光照强度下,附植藻类使狐尾藻MDA含量增加,抗氧化酶(SOD)活性减弱以及叶绿素含量降低。双因素方差分析表明,光照强度、附植藻类以及两者的交互作用均对狐尾藻生理有显著影响(P<0.05)。狐尾藻在100%自然光且有附植藻类存在的环境中生理活动受到严重的胁迫,而10%自然光强且无附植藻类的水环境有利于狐尾藻生理代谢。     

Effect of Oversulfation on the Composition,Structure, and In Vitro Anti-Lung Cancer Activity of Fucoidans Extracted from Sargassum aquifolium

Intensive efforts have been undertaken in the fields of prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of lung cancer. Fucoidans exhibit a wide range of biological activities, which are dependent on the degree of sulfation, sulfation pattern, glycosidic branches, and molecular weight of fucoidan. The determination of oversulfation of fucoidan and its effect on anti-lung cancer activity and related signaling cascades is challenging. In this investigation, we used a previously developed fucoidan (SCA), which served as a native fucoidan, to generate two oversulfated fucoidan derivatives (SCA-S1 and SCA-S2). SCA, SCA-S1, and SCA-S2 showed differences in compositions and had the characteristic structural features of fucoidan by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. The anticancer properties of SCA, SCA-S1, and SCA-S2 against human lung carcinoma A-549 cells were analyzed in terms of cytotoxicity, cell cycle, Bcl-2 expression, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), expression of caspase-3, cytochrome c release, Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, DNA fragmentation, and the underlying signaling cascades. Our findings indicate that the oversulfation of fucoidan promotes apoptosis of lung cancer cells and the mechanism may involve the Akt/mTOR/S6 pathway. Further in vivo research is needed to establish the precise mechanism whereby oversulfated fucoidan mitigates the progression of lung cancer.     

Distribution of free oxides along soil profiles in time series of dry rice fields in polder lands of Kojima-basin

The distributions of free oxides along profiles of some dry rice fields were set forth in the previous reports²,³,⁴,⁶⁾, In this paper, the distribution of free oxides in dry rice field⁵⁾ in polder lands of Kojima-Basin, Okayama pref. is reported. Localities, years elapsed since the planting of rice began in each field and the characteristic of soil profiles are given in Table 1. All the fields are dry rice fields except Soil A, and carry barley or wheat in winter season. Parent materials are similar in all horizons of all soils and rich in fine particles. Fine sands (0.2-0.02 mm) are mainly composed of quartz somewhat accompanied with feldspars, mica, augite and amphibolite. Clays (< 0.002 mm) are mainly composed of halloysite accompanied with a small proportion of montmorillonite. The structure develops well in all the soils.     

海藻热解生物油的成分分析

为了明确海藻热解生物油的主要成分及热解工况对成分的影响,对海藻生物质（条浒苔、马尾藻）不同工况下热解制得的生物油进行气相色谱质谱联用分析。海藻类生物油成分除了含氮化合物外,主要是一些烃类、酮类、醛类、醇类和酚类化合物,以及较大分子量的羧酸及其衍生物,并包含了少量呋喃、吡喃、吡啶等衍生物的杂环化合物。条浒苔油中羧酸及其衍生物（37.85%）和烃类物质（16.61%）较多,而马尾藻生物油中甾族（30.16%）和醇类化合物（24.81%）较多,也检测出油酸、棕榈酸酯和花生酸。不同工况下产生的生物油在组成成分上非常相似,只是相对含量有所不同。热解温度对海藻油组分分布起了重要作用,而载气流量对热解海藻油组分分布的影响不明显。试验结果还表明海藻油中含氮化合物的形成主要与蛋白质的分解有关。海藻生物油相对于陆上植物热解生物油优点为高含烃量,低含氧量。海藻热解制油工艺中温度应控制在500～600℃之间,能达到较佳产油率和油品。     

Mycosporine-like amino acids and marine toxins--the common and the different

Marine microorganisms harbor a multitude of secondary metabolites. Among these are toxins of different chemical classes as well as the UV-protective mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The latter form a group of water-soluble, low molecular-weight (generally < 400) compounds composed of either an aminocyclohexenone or an aminocyclohexenimine ring, carrying amino acid or amino alcohol substituents. So far there has been no report of toxicity in MAAs but nevertheless there are some features they have in common with marine toxins. Among the organisms producing MAAs are cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and diatoms that also synthesize toxins. As in cyclic peptide toxins found in cyanobacteria, amino acids are the main building blocks of MAAs. Both, MAAs and some marine toxins are transferred to other organisms e.g. via the food chains, and chemical modifications can take place in secondary consumers. In contrast to algal toxins, the physiological role of MAAs is clearly the protection from harmful UV radiation by physical screening. However, other roles, e.g. as osmolytes and antioxidants, are also considered. In this paper the common characteristics of MAAs and marine toxins are discussed as well as the differences.     

Floridoside Extracted from the Red Alga Mastocarpus stellatus Is a Potent Activator of the Classical Complement Pathway

Many biological properties of algae have been found to have useful applications in human health, particularly in the fields of oncology and immunology. Floridoside, extracted from the red alga Mastocarpus stellatus, has a structure similar to the xenoantigen Gal alpha 1–3 Gal. This xenoantigen has been described to induce a high immune response in human xenografts and is mediated by natural anti-gal antibodies that activate the classical complement pathway. Based on this property, we analyzed the potential activities of floridoside on the immune system. We demonstrated that floridoside activates a complement cascade via the classical complement pathway, through the recruitment and activation of natural IgM. This algal molecule could represent an important step in the development of a potent new anticomplementary agent for use in therapeutic complement depletion.     

三亚红沙港环境特征及赤潮生物调查

2006年和2007年对三亚红沙港的自然环境概况、污染物来源和养殖状况及赤潮生物进行调查分析,为热带港湾赤潮可持续防控研究提供依据.结果表明:三亚红沙港是一个典型的热带半封闭型港湾;沿岸地表径流很少;污染物来源有养殖污染、生活污染和船舶污染,网箱养殖污染和沿岸池塘养殖污染是红沙港海域污染的主要来源;该海域赤潮生物种类非常丰富,共38种,主要种类为硅藻和甲藻,硅藻占68%,甲藻占26%;浮游植物主要优势种为骨条藻(Skeletonema sp.)和角毛藻(Chaetoceros sp.).该海域丰富的赤潮生物种类构成了该海域赤潮发生的潜在因素.     

不同地点的三种红树共附生微生物分离及生物活性差异的研究

[目的]探索红树共附生微生物及其生物活性在不同地点的差异。[方法]从海南文昌、广东深圳与湛江3个红树林区采集红树木榄、桐花与白骨壤3个品种的根与叶作样品,对样品分别进行微生物分离与抗金黄色葡萄球菌、抗白色念珠菌及B16细胞毒活性的测定。[结果]从18份红树样品中共分离出211株细菌、真菌和放线菌。不同采样地点的微生物组成、不同地点所分离到的菌株的生物活性差异极显著3、个品种的红树以及红树的根在3个不同地点的微生物的生物活性差异均极显著,而红树叶在3个不同地点分离到的微生物的生物活性差异不显著。[结论]该研究获得了一些具有生物活性的菌株,为通过微生物方法获得具有药物作用的化合物提供了可能性。     

福建漳江口红树林病害初步调查

通过对福建漳江口红树林湿地国家级自然保护区红树林叶部病害进行调查,并采集病害标本分离鉴定,经初步分类研究,叶面真菌病害计有交链孢属、镰刀菌属、盘多毛孢属、曲霉属、青霉属等2纲3目4科5属。其中白骨壤的病害种类最多,桐花树受盘多毛孢菌危害最严重。