Hemolytic and cytotoxic effects of saponin like compounds isolated from Persian Gulf brittle star(Ophiocoma erinaceus)

Objective:To isolate and characterize the saponin from Persian Gulf brittle star(Ophiocoma erinaceus)and to evaluate its hemolytic and cytotoxic potential. Methods:In an attempt to prepare saponin from brittle star,collected samples were minced and extracted with ethanol,dichloromethane,n-buthanol.Then,concentrated n-butanol extract were loaded on HP-20 resin and washed with dionized water,80%ethanol and 100%ethanol respectively.Subsequently,detection of saponin was performed by foaming property,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and hemolytic analysis on thin layer chromatography.The cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells was evaluated through 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide(MTT)assay and under invert microscopy.Results:The existence of saponin in Ophiocoma erinaceus were approved by phytochemical method.The presence of C-H bond,C-O-C and OH in fourier transform infrared spectrum of fraction 80%ethanol is characteristic feature in the many of saponin compounds.Hemolytic assay revealed HD_(50) value was 500μg/mL.MTT assay exhibited that saponin extracted in IC_(50) value of 25μg/mL inducsd potent cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells in 24 h and 12.5μg/mL in 48 h,meanwhile in lower concentration did not have considerable effect against HeLa cells.Conclusions:These findings showed that only 80%ethanol fraction Persian Gulf brittle star contained saponin like compounds with hemolytic activity which can be detected simply by phytochemical that can be appreciable for future anticancer research.

The Occurrence of Ophiocnemis marmorata (Echinodermata:Ophiuroidea) Associated with the Rhizostome Medusa Rhopilema hispidum (Cnidaria:Scyphozoa)

The association of scyphomedusae with invertebrates has been long known in the literature; especially with hyperiids amphipods. The association of echinoderms with jellyfish is not common and rarely recorded. We reported the association of the ophiuroid Ophiocnemis marnmrata with the rhizostome scyphomedusa Rhopilema hispidum collected in Vellar estuary （on the southeast coast of India）. O. marmorata is supposed to be a filter feeding ophiuroid, quite common in soft bottom of shallow waters. The brittle stars possibly seek for food supply, shelter and protection through the association.

An enhanced underwater camera apparatus for seabed observation of megabenthic epifauna in the northern Yellow Sea

Seabed photographing has been applied with various underwater camera apparatuses(UCAs)for observations of megabenthic epifauna,which reveals more details than traditional sampling tools do.In this study,we improved a UCA named a towed underwater video-camera system(TUV system)with image processing software for seabed photographing in coastal areas up to 100 m.In May 2017,the TUV system was tested at 4 stations in the Zhangzi Island marine area in the northern Yellow Sea to investigate local megabenthic epifauna,especially brittle stars.At each station,more than 500 good seabed photographs each in area of 0.1550 m2 were obtained in just 10 min.Almost all of the epifauna larger than 1 mm could be identified from the photographs,including echinoderms,bivalves,cnidarians,and crustaceans.Three dominant brittle stars(Ophiopholis mirabilis,Ophiura sarsii vadicola,and Stegophiura sladeni)were spotted,and their abundance,disc diameter,cluster size,and coverage area were calculated and analyzed from the seabed photographs.The results show that the TUV system could be applied in coastal waters of hard sandy bottoms and could be used for quantitative investigations of megabenthic epifauna.