Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

463-467

Authors: Amira Talaat Abo-Hashesh, Wafaa Said Sallam, Fedekar Fadel Madkour, Hanaa Khalil Ashour, Amro Mohamed Hanora

Objective: To investigate the chitin yield of two commercial crustacean species that are exploited in the Suez Canal region, the Red Sea crab Charybdis natator (C. natator) and the Mediterranean mantis shrimp Erugosquilla massavensis (E. massavensis), and to assess the effect of some biological factors such as sex, size and maturity stages of females' ovaries on this yield. Methods: A total of 64 specimens of crabs were collected from the Red Sea and 1 377 mantis shrimps were collected from the Mediterranean Sea. Chitin was obtained after the deproteinization, de-mineralization and de-colorization of 5 g oven dried exoskeletons and values were expressed as g/5 g and percentages. Results: Chitin yield was significantly higher in E. massavensis than C. natator (22.1%, 14.22%, respectively). No significant difference in the yield was recorded between males and females of C. natator (12.9%, 14.9%, respectively), while the yield in E. massavensis males was significantly higher than females (25.3%, 21.2%, respectively). Significant variations in the chitin yield were observed between the different sizes of E. massavensis with the maximum being from the individuals falling in the size range 90–130 mm body length. The yield was at its lowest in the immature stage of C. natator females' ovaries (9.29%). However, the values increased and remained constant for the remaining stages (≥ 18%). Conclusions: The study recommends the use of the mantis shrimp for the production of chitin on commercial scale particularly medium sized males.

474-479

Authors: Ali Farzi, Alireza Dehnad, Najibeh Shirzad, Faezeh Norouzifard

Objective: To investigate the biodegradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE) by Streptomyces species isolated from the soil of East Azerbaijan, Iran. Methods: Powders of HDPE samples were prepared by grinding in different particle sizes of 212, 300, 420, and 500 microns. Each time 50 mg of a sample was poured to a liquid medium containing species. Samples were incubated for 18 days at 28 °C in a shaker-incubator and their degradation percentage was measured by weighting method. Produced metabolite at 18th day was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Also a film of HDPE was subjected to biodegradation and after one month was analyzed by scanning electron microscope which showed degradation on the surface of the film. Results: The results showed that Streptomyces species degraded 50 mg of HDPE sample with the size of 212 μm about 18.26%, 300 and 420 μm about 14.4%, and 500 μm about 13%. Kinetic modeling of biodegradation process showed that the reaction rate was first order with respect to concentration of HDPE. Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results, no high toxic material was produced during biodegradation of HDPE. Conclusions: The research showed that isolated Streptomyces sp. are capable of degradation of HDPE polymer with high degradation efficiency.

486-491

Authors: Mathewos Anza, Mesfin Bibiso, Bereket Alemayehu, Engeda Desalegn

Objective: To investigate phytochemical constituents, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the root extracts of Carduus macracanthus (C. macracanthus). Methods: Phytochemical screening tests were conducted as per of the standard procedure to identify the classes of compounds present in the root extract of C. macracanthus. Silica gel column chromatographic technique was applied to separate the constituents from chloroform/ methanol (1:1) root extracts. Various spectroscopic techniques were applied to determine the structure of the isolated compound. In vtiro antibacterial activities of crude extracts were evaluated via disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacterial concentration were determined by broth dilution method. Moreover, antioxidant activities of extracts were determined by DPPH assay, the phosphomolybdenum method and total flavonoid contents were determined as per of the standard procedures. Results: Phytochemical screening of root extracts of C. macracanthus revealed the presence alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes, tannins and steroids. Silica gel column chromatography separation of root extract using chloroform/methanol (1:1 ratio) yielded a known plant steroid stigmasterol. The result revealed that methanol extract had the greatest DPPH scavenging (IC50 = 97.50 ± 4.38 μg/mL) and total antioxidant (1.92 ± 0.24 mg AAE/g of dried extract) activities. Chloroform/methanol (1:1), and methanol extracts showed that growth suppression of Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration above 25 mg/mL, and minimum inhibitory concentration was found to be 25 mg/mL. Methanol extract showed growth suppression against Escherichia coli at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. The antibacterial activities of the extracts were compared with a commercially available antibiotic (chloramphenicol) and showed moderate antibacterial activities, with inhibition zones ranging between 18–28 mm. However, the extracts had no antibacterial effects on Salmonella typhi. Conclusions: The present study found that polar extracts of the root of C. macracanthus possessed antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

496-500

Authors: Uddin Jalal, Karim Samira, Gain Dwigbijoy, Hassan Mahmudul, Sultana Julie Azima, Khalid Labu Zubair

Objective: To rationalize the folkloric use of hypoglycemic, antinociceptive and antioxidant potentials with phytochemical screening of methanolic bark extract of Crataeva nurvala (C. nurvala) in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The collected bark was dried and grinded. The coarse powder was soaked in 2 000 mL of 90% methanol for several days then filtrated. At 40 °C the volume of crude methanolic extract (CME) was reduced by a vacuum rotary evaporator, then the aqueous methanol extract was separated into petroleum ether, carbon tetrachloride, and aqueous soluble fractions by Kupchan protocol. Then the extracts were subjected to evaluate in vivo analgesic, hypoglycemic activities in Swiss albino mice model and antioxidant in vitro. Results: In quantitative phytochemical analysis, total phenolic content was found maximum (235.94 mg of GAE/g) in aqueous soluble fraction; in case of antioxidant potentials, DPPH free radical scavenging assay showed IC50 value of 9.25 μg/mL exhibited by aqueous soluble fraction in comparison to ascorbic acid (8.27 μg/mL) as a reference standard. The CMEs potentially (P < 0.05) reduced the acetic acid-induced writhing and increased (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) latency period in the tail immersion method at a dose dependent manner. The CME significantly reduced blood sugar level of diabetic rat induced by alloxan monohydrate. Conclusions: This study was conducted to validate the extensive use of C. nurvala bark as folk medicine with antinociceptive, hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects. It can be concluded that the bark of C. nurvala possesses good antinociceptive, moderate hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities. However, further chemical and pharmacological revise are needed to elucidate the detail mode of action behind this and identify the responsible active principles.

504

Authors: Masoud Keikha

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