Gracilaria changii(Rhodophyta) alleviates bisphenol A-induced adverse reproductive abnormalities in mice

Objective:To evaluate the potential of Gracilaria changii extract in ameliorating the potential adverse effects of bisphenol A.Methods:The antioxidant capacity of Gracilaria changii extracted using different solvents(methanol,ethanol,and aqueous)was studied.The mice were administered by oral gavage with bisphenol A(60 mg/kg body weight)for 6 weeks with or without Gracilaria changii aqueous extract.Thereafter,the mice were either euthanized for histology and immunohistochemistry studies or mated to evaluate the pregnancy rate.Results:Gracilaria changii aqueous extract showed the highest antioxidant properties compared with extract using methanol and ethanol.The aqueous extract of Gracilaria changii improved the uterus index and uterine lipid peroxidation after bisphenol A exposure,although the uterine expressions of estrogen receptors and complement C3 were not improved.Histological evaluation of the uterus during the estrus stage has revealed that the extract could mitigate bisphenol A-induced adverse effects in the uterus as there was a lower percentage of mice showing abnormalities like decreased eosin staining in the myometrium,and decrease in the number of eosinophil and endometrial glands in the endometrium.Besides,Gracilaria changii aqueous extract improved the pregnancy rate of mice administered with bisphenol A.Conclusions:Gracilaria changii extract protects against bisphenol A-induced female reproductive abnormalities in mice which may be mediated via modulation of eosinophil migration,endometrial gland formation,and protein expressions associated with prostaglandins in the myometrium.

Agarase Production by Marine Pseudoalteromonas sp.MHS:Optimization,and Purification

Agar is an essential polysaccharide that has been utilized in numerous fields.Many kinds of literature have been published regarding agarolytic microorganisms’isolation and agarases biochemical studies.In this search,a local marine agarolytic bacterium associated with marine alga Ulva lactuca surface was isolated and identified as Pseudoalteromonas sp.MHS.The agarase production was parallel to the growth of Pseudoalteromonas sp.MHS as cells displayed a lag phase(2 h),subsequently an exponential growth that prolonged till 10 h where maximum growth(OD550nm=3.9)was achieved.The enzyme activity increased rapidly as cells increased exponentially where the maximum activity of 0.22 U/mL was achieved after 8h and remained constant till 12 h during the stationary phase of growth.Agarase production was optimized using Plackett-Burman statistical design by measuring enzyme activity as a response and the design was validated using a verification experiment;the activity of the enzyme increased from 0.22 U/mL to 0.29 U/mL.Pseudoalteromonas sp.MHS agarase was partially purified and its molecular weight(MW)was determined by SDS-PAGE(15-25 kDa).Agarase showed approximately 94% of its activity at 40℃.The enzyme stability decreased as the temperature increased;the enzyme could retain about 98,90,80,75,and 60% of its activity at 20,30,40,50,and 60℃,respectively.Biomass of the red alga Pterocladia capillacea proved to be a suitable substrate for agarase production using Pseudoalteromonas sp.MHS;the enzyme activity recorded after 24 h of incubation was 0.35 U/mL compared to 0.29 U/mL from the optimized medium.