Dhara Dixit

The study elucidates presence of 16 potential putative metabolites in Dictyota dichotoma through non‐targeted secondary metabolite profile analysis using electrospray ionization negative mode of liquid chromatography with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Two fatty acyl glycosides viz; 5‐megastigmen‐7‐yne‐3,9‐diol 9‐glucoside (biomarker for food consumption) and (3S,7E,9S)‐9‐hydroxy‐4,7‐megastigmadien‐3‐one 9‐glucoside (nutrient, emulsifier, surfactant), an o‐glycosyl compound 5‐megastigmen‐7‐yne‐3,9‐diol 3‐glucoside (biomarker for food consumption), all with m/z value 370.19 were detected. An acyclic monoterpenoid and diterpenoid viz; isodigeranyl and digeranyl (both with m/z 274.26; food biomarkers) were detected. Additionally, (3′x,5′a,9′x,10′b)‐O‐(3‐hydroxy‐6‐oxo‐7‐drimen‐11‐yl) umbelliferone (m/z 396.19; nutrient, emulsifier, surfactant) and kamolonol (m/z 398.2; antibacterial, anti‐tumor) were observed. Two angular pyranocoumarins: mammea C/AB cyclo D (m/z 398.2; food consumption biomarker) and 5‐hydroxy‐8, 8‐dimethyl‐6‐(3‐methyl‐1‐oxobutyl)‐4‐pentyl‐2H,8H‐benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b']dipyran‐2‐one (m/z 398.2; fruit constituent) were present. Two terpene lactones ‐ galbanic acid (m/z 398.2; antimicrobial, anticoagulant, antiviral, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer) and asacoumarin A (m/z 398.2; antiprotozoal, antiglycation activity) were detected. Armillaribin (m/z 398.2; food biomarker) along with glycinoeclepin B (m/z 558.28; nutrient, emulsifier, surfactant) was noted. Two flavonoids; (S)‐(E)‐2′‐(3,6‐dimethyl‐2‐heptenyl)‐3′,4′,7‐trihydroxyflavanone and (S)‐(E)‐8‐(3,6‐dimethyl‐2‐heptenyl)‐4′,5,7‐trihydroxyflavanone (m/z 396.19) and a drug triclofos (m/z 227.89; sedative) were detected. This study highlights the metabolic makeup of D. dichotoma collected from Kachchh coast thereby, accentuating the probability of its inclusion as a promising ingredient in functional foods from algal origin.

A simple and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of hybrid bead silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) employing the aqueous extract derived from natural and renewable source viz. tropical benthic green seaweed Ulva flexuosa is developed (Figure 1). This route involves the reduction of Ag⁺ ions anchored onto macro porous methacrylic acid copolymer beads to AgNPs for employing them as antibacterial agents for in vitro water disinfection. The seaweed extract itself acts as a reducing and stabilizing agent and requires no additional surfactant or capping agent for forming the AgNPs. The nanoparticles were analysed using High resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The study elucidates that such biologically synthesized AgNPs exhibit potential antibacterial activity against two Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial strains tested. The bacterial count in treated water was reduced to zero for all the strains. The atomic force microscopy was performed to confirm the pre and post state of the bacteria with reference to their treatment with AgNPs. Attributes like facile environment-friendly procedure, stability and high antibacterial potency propel the consideration of these AgNPs as promising antibacterial entities.

Eight tropical marine macro algae were investigated for in-vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and biochemical properties. The moisture content [% DW (dry weight)] ranged from 7.21 to 14.72%; ash, 24.92 to 47.04%; lipids, 0.73 to 2.67%; protein, 4.56 to 12.59%; and carbohydrate, 30.1 to 48.51%. The % sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged from 21.71 to 78.22%, while omega-6/omega-3 (ω6/ω3) ratio was from 0 to 2.08, which remained within the prescribed World Health Organization (WHO) standards (P < 0.05) values for total phenol (7.25–16.0 µg PGE mg^–1 DW) and total flavonoid (4.06–15.63 µg QE mg^–1 DW) at 200 µg/ml. Antibacterial activity was tested against the selected food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed a positive correlation between total phenolic content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), which supports the integration of seaweeds as ingredients in functional foods.

This study aims to unveil the cosmeceutical traits of Jania rubens by highlighting its mineral composition, antioxidant potential, and presence of bioactive molecules using non-targeted metabolite profiling. This study showed that among minerals, (macro), Ca (14790.33 + 1.46 mg/100 g dry weight (DW)) and in (micro) Fe (84.93 + 0.89 mg/100 g DW) was the highest. A total of 23 putative metabolites in the +ESI (Electrospray Ionization) mode of LCMS-TOF (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry-Time of Flight) were detected. Two anthocyanins—malonylshisonin and 4′′′-demalonylsalvianin (m/z 825.19; anti-aging, antioxidant, anticancer properties) were detected. Two flavonoids, viz, medicocarpin and agecorynin C, 4′-O-methylglucoliquiritigenin—a flavonoid-7-O-glycoside, and 5,6,7,8,3′,4′,5′-heptamethoxyflavone, a polymethoxygenated flavone (m/z 415.15), were detected. Maclurin 3-C-(2″,3″,6″-trigalloylglucoside) (m/z 863.15) (antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer traits) and theaflavonin (m/z 919.18), belonging to the class of theaflavins (whitening and anti-wrinkle agent), were obtained. Pharmacologically active metabolites like berberrubin (m/z 305.1; antitumor activity), icaceine (m/z 358.24; anticonvulsant properties), agnuside (m/z 449.15; constituent for treatment of premenstrual syndrome), γ-coniceine (m/z 108.12; formulations to treat breast cancer), eremopetasitenin B2, and eremosulphoxinolide A (m/z 447.18; therapeutic effect of allergy and asthma) were observed. 6-O-Methylarmillaridin (m/z 445.18) (antimicrobial and antifungal) and simmondsin 2-ferulate, (m/z 534.21) (insecticidal, antifungal and antifeedant) were detected. Aromatic lignans, viz, 8-Acetoxy-4′-methoxypinoresinol, sesartemin, and cubebinone (m/z 413.16), in addition to an aromatic terpene glycoside, tsangane L3 glucoside (m/z 357.23), were detected. Zizybeoside I, benzyl gentiobioside, and trichocarposide were also detected. The determination of antioxidant potential was performed through assays such as like DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Power), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and total antioxidants. Therefore, this study progresses the probability for the inclusion of J. rubens as an ingredient in modern day cosmetic formulations.

Macroporous crosslinked acrylonitrile‐divinylbenzene copolymer beads were synthesized by suspension polymerization technique. The beads were chemically modified to have amidoxime functional group, which was used as a solid support for anchoring copper microparticles. The copper ions loaded on the copolymer beads were reduced using strong reducing agent to have copper microparticles on the amidoxime copolymer beads. The size of copper particles formed depends upon the amount of copper ions loaded on the beads. The formation of copper microparticles on the copolymer was confirmed by instrumental analysis. The copper containing amidoxime copolymer beads were investigated for the biocidal activity. The size and the distribution of copper particles on the amidoxime copolymer beads influenced their biocidal activity. The biocidal activity was tested against two Gram‐positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, and against two Gram‐negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The beads containing copper particles showed better biocidal activity against the Gram‐negative bacteria when compared with the Gram‐positive organisms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013