Bioactive Molecules from the Exoskeleton of : Reducing Capacity, Radical Scavenger, and Antitumor and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

This study evaluates, for the first time, the reducing capacity, radical scavenger activity, and antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects of chitosan, astaxanthin, and bio-phenols extracted from the exoskeleton of Sicilian , the most widespread species of invasive crayfish in the Mediterranean region. Among the extracted compounds, astaxanthin exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all assays. Chitosan and polyphenols demonstrated reducing and radical scavenging activity; chitosan showed significant ferric ion reducing capacity in the FRAP test, while bio-phenolic compounds displayed notable radical scavenging activity in the DPPH and ABTS assays.

An alternative approach of TUNEL assay to specifically characterize DNA fragmentation in cell model systems.

DNA damage is one of the most important effects induced by chemical agents. We report a comparative analysis of DNA fragmentation on three different cell lines using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, generally applied to detect apoptosis. Our approach combines cytogenetic techniques and investigation in detached cellular structures, recovered from the culture medium with the aim to compare the DNA fragmentation of three different cell line even beyond the cells adherent to substrate.

Modulation of Glucose Consumption and Uptake in HepG2 Cells by Aqueous Extracts from the Coelomic Fluid of the Edible Sea Cucumber.

The cell-free aqueous extract from the coelomic fluid of was prepared and examined for its glucose-lowering effect on HepG2 cells in vitro. In particular, employing a combination of cytochemical, flow cytometric, PCR, and protein blot techniques, we evaluated its role on glucose internalization and storage and on the upregulation and surface translocation of the two glucose transporters GLUT-2 and -4. The changes in expression, synthesis, and/or activation of the -related transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha (HNF1α) and the GLUT-4-translocation regulatory factors insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and AKT were also studied.

Chemical Characterization, Free Radical Scavenging, and Cellular Antioxidant Properties of the Egadi Island Endemic Guss Leaf Extract.

The genus is an important source of food in the Mediterranean diet with documented nutritional and medicinal properties. However, few studies have investigated the phytochemical composition and the biological activity of wild Sicilian taxa. Thus, we aimed to study the chemical profile and the antioxidant potential, in vitro and in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.

The stunting effect of an oxylipins-containing macroalgae extract on sea urchin reproduction and neuroblastoma cells viability.

Different bioactive molecules extracted from macroalgae, including oxylipins, showed interesting potentials in different applications, from healthcare to biomaterial manufacturing and environmental remediation. Thus far, no studies reported the effects of oxylipins-containing macroalgae extracts on embryo development of marine invertebrates and on neuroblastoma cancer cells. Here, the effects of an oxylipins-containing extract from Ericaria brachycarpa, a canopy-forming brown algae, were investigated on the development of Arbacia lixula sea urchin embryos and on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells viability.