The red macroalgae Porphyra, commonly known as Nori, is widely used as food around the world due to its high nutrient content, including the significant abundance of colored phycobiliproteins (PBPs). Among these, R-phycocyanin (R-PC) stands out for its vibrant purple color and numerous bioactive properties, making it a valuable protein for the food industry. However, R-PC's limited thermal stability necessitates alternative processing methods to preserve its color and bioactive properties. Our study aimed to investigate the in-situ stability of oligomeric R-PC under high pressure (HP) conditions (up to 4000 bar) using a combination of absorption, fluorescence, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The unfolding of R-PC is a multiphase process. Initially, low pressure induces conformational changes in the R-PC oligomeric form (trimers). As pressure increases above 1600 bar, these trimers dissociate into monomers, and at pressures above 3000 bar, the subunits begin to unfold. When returned to atmospheric pressure, R-PC partially refolds, retaining 50% of its original color absorbance. In contrast, heat treatment causes irreversible and detrimental effects on R-PC color, highlighting the advantages of HP treatment in preserving both the color and bioactive properties of R-PC compared to heat treatment.
Probiotics are microorganisms that provide health benefits at adequate doses and exhibit notable antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These properties play crucial roles in combating chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress and antimicrobial resistance. This review aimed to summarize the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of probiotics determined in in vitro studies and discuss mechanistic actions and analysis methods.
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n4450-208Matosinhos, Portugal.
Genome mining has emerged as an important tool for the discovery of natural products and is particularly effective for the swift identification of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Among RiPPs, cyanobactins have gained attention due to their diverse structures and bioactive properties. Here, we explored the Microcoleaceae cyanobacterium LEGE 16532 strain and identified the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC), which was predicted to encode cyanobactin-like molecules.
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, 90000, Tetouan, Morocco.
Marine sulfated polysaccharides constitute a class of bioactive polymers commonly found in cell walls of macroalgae. Among these macromolecular substances, fucoidans, ulvans, and carrageenans have attracted considerable attention providing interesting therapeutic properties affected by a combination of various structural factors, such as sulfation pattern, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and glycosidic linkages. Remarkably, chemical modification, enzymatic hydrolysis and crosslinking are promising approaches for developing the application of these polysaccharides through enhancement and/or addition of new biological properties.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a fatal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The biological and physiological links between CM, inflammation, and inflammasome, point to the complexity of its pathology. Resistance to available and affordable drugs, worsening economic crisis, and urgent need for integration of orthodox with traditional/alternative medicine, actualized the search for sustainable pharmacotherapy.
Medicinal mushroom extracts, i.e. their dried biomass, have long been known as sources of bioactive compounds with positive effects on the human health.
