<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Ten monoclonal microalgal cultures were obtained from several Tunisian inland water bodies, and their dichloromethane and methanolic extracts were screened for antibacterial, antileishmanial, and antioxidant properties, as well as phycobiliprotein production capacity. <italic>Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii</italic> has been shown to synthesize high levels of phycocyanin and may be an effective alternative source to other sources used for commercial production of phycocyanin. <italic>Chroococcus</italic> sp. and <italic>Leptolyngbya</italic> sp1. exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity against DPPH (IC50 = 212.15 and 263.91 μg ml−1, respectively), indicating their promising potential for use as new effective and non-toxic antioxidants. Furthermore, <italic>Dunaliella</italic> sp. showed an interesting antileishmanial activity against the pathogens <italic>Leishmania infantum</italic> and <italic>Leishmania major</italic> (IC50 = 151 and 284 μg ml−1, respectively), thus representing a good candidate for use against cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Tunisia, a country endemic to these diseases where thousands of new cases are registered every year. These results suggest that the strains of microalgae featured in this work have the potential to serve as natural alternative, safe and sustainable sources of high value-added products that could be used to improve the final biomass value.
</abstract>

Ten monoclonal microalgal cultures were obtained from several Tunisian inland water bodies, and their dichloromethane and methanolic extracts were screened for antibacterial, antileishmanial, and antioxidant properties, as well as phycobiliprotein production capacity. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii has been shown to synthesize high levels of phycocyanin and may be an effective alternative source to other sources used for commercial production of phycocyanin. Chroococcus sp. and Leptolyngbya sp1. exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity against DPPH (IC50 = 212.15 and 263.91 μg ml−1, respectively), indicating their promising potential for use as new effective and non-toxic antioxidants. Furthermore, Dunaliella sp. showed an interesting antileishmanial activity against the pathogens Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major (IC50 = 151 and 284 μg ml−1, respectively), thus representing a good candidate for use against cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in Tunisia, a country endemic to these diseases where thousands of new cases are registered every year. These results suggest that the strains of microalgae featured in this work have the potential to serve as natural alternative, safe and sustainable sources of high value-added products that could be used to improve the final biomass value.

Tunisian inland water microflora as a source of phycobiliproteins and biological activity with beneficial effects on human health

Laboratoire Écosystèmes et Ressources Aquatiques et Animale (LR21AGRO1)

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ten monoclonal microalgal cultures were obtained from several Tunisian inland water bodies, and their dichloromethane and methanolic extracts were screened for...

Tunisian inland water microflora as a source of phycobiliproteins and biological activity with beneficial effects on human health

Article Category: Original research paper

Pubblicato online: 03 dic 2021

Pagine: 385 - 397

Ricevuto: 02 mag 2021

Accettato: 05 lug 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oandhs-2021-0033

Parole chiave
Tunisian inland water, microalgae identification, phytochemical content, biological activity

© 2021 Khaled Gharbi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Tunisian inland water microflora as a source of phycobiliproteins and biological activity with beneficial effects on human health

Article Category: Original research paper

Pubblicato online: 03 dic 2021

Pagine: 385 - 397

Ricevuto: 02 mag 2021

Accettato: 05 lug 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oandhs-2021-0033

Parole chiaveTunisian inland water, microalgae identification, phytochemical content, biological activity

© 2021 Khaled Gharbi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Parole chiave
Tunisian inland water, microalgae identification, phytochemical content, biological activity