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Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources
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Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 21665

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roberto Parra-Saldivar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Professor, Institute of Advanced Materials and Sustainable Manufacturing, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
Interests: biomaterials; biopolymers; biomolecules; and bioprocess; biorefinery; microalgae biotechnology; applied biocatalysis; bioreactor engineering and bioprocess modeling; nanomaterials; functional foods and high-added-value compounds; green technologies for the revalorization of agroindustrial waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elda M. Melchor-Martínez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tecnologico de Monterrey, Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
Interests: natural products chemistry; medicinal chemistry; biotechnology; enzymology; biomedicine; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit short communications, original research, or review articles to this Special Issue, entitled “Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources”.

Research has shown that marine plants and related organisms are excellent sources of bioactive compounds. Extracts and purified compounds of these organisms have been studied for their several therapeutic and industrially useful biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-viral activities, among others. The secondary metabolites of marine organisms are the result of millions of years of evolution and natural selection, giving rise to interesting and novel structures that even combinatory chemistry nowadays has failed to replicate. Therefore, aiming to identify novel bioactive compounds from marine plants and related sources, we invite researchers in different fields to contribute their work. Studies focused on the extraction and purification, spectroscopic and stereochemical characterization, synthetic modification, bioactivities, biotechnological production techniques, and industrial applications (pharmaceutical, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, agricultural, etc.) of marine bioactive compounds are invited.

Dr. Roberto Parra-Saldivar
Dr. Elda M. Melchor-Martínez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine natural products
  • marine drug discovery
  • marine plants
  • micro- and macroalgae
  • seaweed
  • cyanobacteria
  • marine bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

28 pages, 5299 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Potential of Algal Extracts as Promising Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agents against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: In Vitro and In Silico Studies including Molecular Docking
by Shimaa El-Sapagh, Rania El-Shenody, Leonel Pereira and Mostafa Elshobary
Plants 2023, 12(18), 3324; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183324 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3297
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a global challenge due to its virulence and biofilm-forming ability, leading to persistent infections. This study had a dual focus: first, it aimed to investigate the biofilm activity and antibiotic resistance profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates obtained from a [...] Read more.
Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a global challenge due to its virulence and biofilm-forming ability, leading to persistent infections. This study had a dual focus: first, it aimed to investigate the biofilm activity and antibiotic resistance profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates obtained from a fish-rearing farm. Second, it explored the potential of algal extracts as effective antibacterial and antibiofilm agents. The study analyzed 23 isolates of P. aeruginosa from the farm, assessing antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of two algal extracts, Arthrospira platensis (cyanobacteria) acetone extract (AAE) and Polysiphonia scopulorum (Rhodophyta) methanol extract (PME), were tested individually and combined (COE). The effects on biofilm-related gene expression were examined. AAE, PME, and COE were evaluated for antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. Biofilm-related gene expression was measured and the extracts were analyzed for physicochemical properties and toxicity. Most P. aeruginosa isolates (86.9%) were antibiotic-resistant and formed biofilms. AAE, PME, and COE displayed promising antibacterial and antibiofilm effects, with COE being particularly effective. COE reduced a key biofilm-related gene expression. The fatty acid content (56% in AAE and 34% in PME) correlated with the effects. Specific compounds, such as phytol, bromophenol, and dihydroxy benzaldehyde, contributed to the activities. The extracts showed favorable characteristics and interactions with FabZ protein amino acids. This study suggests the potential of algal extracts as antibacterial and antibiofilm agents against drug-resistant infections. Further exploration in clinical applications is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources)
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21 pages, 4198 KiB  
Article
Biodiesel Production from the Marine Alga Nannochloropsis oceanica Grown on Yeast Wastewater and the Effect on Its Biochemical Composition and Gene Expression
by Hoda H. Senousy, Mostafa M. El-Sheekh, Hanan M. Khairy, Heba S. El-Sayed, Ghada Abd-Elmonsef Mahmoud and Amal A. Hamed
Plants 2023, 12(16), 2898; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12162898 - 8 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2420
Abstract
Microalgae-based biodiesel synthesis is currently not commercially viable due to the high costs of culture realizations and low lipid yields. The main objective of the current study was to determine the possibility of growing Nannochloropsis oceanica on Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast wastewater for biodiesel [...] Read more.
Microalgae-based biodiesel synthesis is currently not commercially viable due to the high costs of culture realizations and low lipid yields. The main objective of the current study was to determine the possibility of growing Nannochloropsis oceanica on Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast wastewater for biodiesel generation at an economical rate. N. oceanica was grown in Guillard F/2 synthetic medium and three dilutions of yeast wastewater (1, 1.25, and 1.5%). Biodiesel properties, in addition to carbohydrate, protein, lipid, dry weight, biomass, lipid productivity, amino acids, and fatty acid methyl ester (FAMEs) content, were analyzed and the quality of the produced biodiesel is assessed. The data revealed the response of N. oceanica to nitrogen-deficiency in the three dilutions of yeast wastewater. N. oceanica in Y2 (1.25%) yeast wastewater dilution exhibited the highest total carbohydrate and lipid percentages (21.19% and 41.97%, respectively), and the highest lipid productivity (52.46 mg L−1 day −1) under nitrogen deficiency in yeast wastewater. The fatty acids profile shows that N. oceanica cultivated in Y2 (1.25%) wastewater dilution provides a significant level of TSFA (47.42%) and can be used as a feedstock for biodiesel synthesis. In addition, N. oceanica responded to nitrogen shortage in wastewater dilutions by upregulating the gene encoding delta-9 fatty acid desaturase (Δ9FAD). As a result, the oleic and palmitoleic acid levels increased in the fatty acid profile of Y2 yeast wastewater dilution, highlighting the increased activity of Δ9FAD enzyme in transforming stearic acid and palmitic acid into oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. This study proved that the Y2 (1.25%) yeast wastewater dilution can be utilized as a growth medium for improving the quantity of specific fatty acids and lipid productivity in N. oceanica that affect biodiesel quality to satisfy global biodiesel requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources)
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18 pages, 2629 KiB  
Article
Arctic Edible Brown Alga Fucus distichus L.: Biochemical Composition, Antiradical Potential and Human Health Risk
by Ekaterina D. Obluchinskaya, Olga N. Pozharitskaya, Elena V. Gorshenina, Denis V. Zakharov, Elena V. Flisyuk, Inna I. Terninko, Yuliya E. Generalova and Alexander N. Shikov
Plants 2023, 12(12), 2380; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122380 - 19 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1740
Abstract
Fucus distichus L. is the dominant canopy-forming macroalga in the rocky intertidal areas of the Arctic and Subarctic. In the present study, the impact of the geographic location of F. distichus collected in the Baffin Sea (BfS), Norwegian Sea (NS), White Sea (WS), [...] Read more.
Fucus distichus L. is the dominant canopy-forming macroalga in the rocky intertidal areas of the Arctic and Subarctic. In the present study, the impact of the geographic location of F. distichus collected in the Baffin Sea (BfS), Norwegian Sea (NS), White Sea (WS), and Barents Sea (BS) on the variations in biochemical composition, antiradical properties, and health risk was evaluated. The accumulation of main carbohydrates (fucoidan, mannitol, and alginic acid) varied from 335 mg/g dry weight (DW) in NS to 445 mg/g DW in BS. The highest level of the sum of polyphenols and flavonoids was found in samples of F. distichus from WS and was located in the following ranking order: BS < BfS < NS < WS. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of seaweed is correlated with its phenolic content. It is notable that in most Arctic F. distichus samples, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni were not detected or their concentrations were below the limit of quantification. According to calculated targeted hazard quotient and hazard index values, all studied samples of Arctic F. distichus are safe for daily consumption as they do not pose a carcinogenic risk to the health of adults or children. The results of this study support the rationale for using Arctic F. distichus as a rich source of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids with important antiradical activity. We believe that our data will help to effectively use the potential of F. distichus and expand the use of this algae as a promising and safe raw material for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources)
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Review

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24 pages, 2396 KiB  
Review
Review of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Causing Marine Fish Kills: Toxicity and Mitigation
by Jae-Wook Oh, Suraj Shiv Charan Pushparaj, Manikandan Muthu and Judy Gopal
Plants 2023, 12(23), 3936; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12233936 - 22 Nov 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4932
Abstract
Extensive growth of microscopic algae and cyanobacteria results in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. HABs can harm humans and animals through their toxicity or by producing ecological conditions such as oxygen depletion, which can kill fish and other [...] Read more.
Extensive growth of microscopic algae and cyanobacteria results in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. HABs can harm humans and animals through their toxicity or by producing ecological conditions such as oxygen depletion, which can kill fish and other economically or ecologically important organisms. This review summarizes the reports on various HABs that are able to bring about marine fish kills. The predominant HABs, their toxins, and their effects on fishes spread across various parts of the globe are discussed. The mechanism of HAB-driven fish kills is discussed based on the available reports, and existing mitigation methods are presented. Lapses in the large-scale implementation of mitigation methods demonstrated under laboratory conditions are projected. Clay-related technologies and nano-sorption-based nanotechnologies, although proven to make significant contributions, have not been put to use in real-world conditions. The gaps in the technology transfer of the accomplished mitigation prototypes are highlighted. Further uses of remote sensing and machine learning state-of-the-art techniques for the detection and identification of HABs are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources)
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24 pages, 1492 KiB  
Review
New Perspective for Macroalgae-Based Animal Feeding in the Context of Challenging Sustainable Food Production
by Georgia M. González-Meza, Joel H. Elizondo-Luevano, Sara P. Cuellar-Bermudez, Juan Eduardo Sosa-Hernández, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, Elda M. Melchor-Martínez and Roberto Parra-Saldívar
Plants 2023, 12(20), 3609; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203609 - 18 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2525
Abstract
Food production is facing challenging times due to the pandemic, and climate change. With production expected to double by 2050, there is a need for a new paradigm in sustainable animal feed supply. Seaweeds offer a highly valuable opportunity in this regard. Seaweeds [...] Read more.
Food production is facing challenging times due to the pandemic, and climate change. With production expected to double by 2050, there is a need for a new paradigm in sustainable animal feed supply. Seaweeds offer a highly valuable opportunity in this regard. Seaweeds are classified into three categories: brown (Phaeophyceae), red (Rhodophyceae), and green (Chlorophyceae). While they have traditionally been used in aquafeed, their demand in the feed market is growing, parallelly increasing according to the food demand. Additionally, seaweeds are being promoted for their nutritional benefits, which contribute to the health, growth, and performance of animals intended for human consumption. Moreover, seaweeds contain biologically active compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants (polyphenols), and pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), which possess beneficial properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects and act as prebiotics. This review offers a new perspective on the valorization of macroalgae biomass due to their nutritional profile and bioactive components, which have the potential to play a crucial role in animal growth and making possible new sources of healthy food ingredients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources)
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26 pages, 1409 KiB  
Review
Polysaccharides from the Sargassum and Brown Algae Genus: Extraction, Purification, and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications
by Elda A. Flores-Contreras, Rafael G. Araújo, Arath A. Rodríguez-Aguayo, Muriel Guzmán-Román, Jesús Carlos García-Venegas, Erik Francisco Nájera-Martínez, Juan Eduardo Sosa-Hernández, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, Elda M. Melchor-Martínez and Roberto Parra-Saldivar
Plants 2023, 12(13), 2445; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132445 - 25 Jun 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6018
Abstract
Brown macroalgae represent one of the most proliferative groups of living organisms in aquatic environments. Due to their abundance, they often cause problems in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in health problems in humans and the death of various aquatic species. To resolve [...] Read more.
Brown macroalgae represent one of the most proliferative groups of living organisms in aquatic environments. Due to their abundance, they often cause problems in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in health problems in humans and the death of various aquatic species. To resolve this, the application of Sargassum has been sought in different research areas, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, since Sargassum is an easy target for study and simple to obtain. In addition, its high content of biocompounds, such as polysaccharides, phenols, and amino acids, among others, has attracted attention. One of the valuable components of brown macroalgae is their polysaccharides, which present interesting bioactivities, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumoral, among others. There is a wide variety of methods of extraction currently used to obtain these polysaccharides, such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), subcritical water extraction (SCWE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Therefore, this work covers the most current information on the methods of extraction, as well as the purification used to obtain a polysaccharide from Sargassum that is able to be utilized as alginates, fucoidans, and laminarins. In addition, a compilation of bioactivities involving brown algae polysaccharides in in vivo and in vitro studies is also presented, along with challenges in the research and marketing of Sargassum-based products that are commercially available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants and Related Sources)
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