Abstract

In recent years seaweeds increasingly attracted interest in the search for new drugs and have been shown to be a primary source of bioactive natural products including antibiotics. In the present investigation the antimicrobial activity of Gracilariopsis longissima lipidic extract was assayed and its chemical characterization was carried out by means of advanced analytical techniques such as gas-chromatography and multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. G. longissima lipidic extract showed an antibacterial activity against several Vibrio species. These results are interesting considering both the resistance against antibiotics developed by vibrios and the need to control fish and shellfish diseases due to vibriosis. Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters performed by gas-chromatography showed that palmitic acid methyl ester (16:0) was the predominant saturated fatty acid (42%), while, among monounsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid methyl ester (18:1) prevailed (8.5%). Because the palmitic acid represents the main component of fatty acids we hypothesized its involvement in the antibacterial activity observed. However, a pure sample of palmitic acid did not show an antibacterial activity. The fatty acid profile of G. longissima revealed also an interesting composition in polyunsaturated fatty acids and in particular the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids was >1 thus suggesting that this macroalga may be used as a natural source of omega 3. Moreover, the H-1 NMR spectrum in CDCl3 of algal lipid fraction shows the characteristic signals of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids as well as other metabolites. Interestingly, in the lipid extract the presence of polyhydroxybutyrate, a linear biodegradable and biocompatible polyester, was clearly identified by NMR spectroscopy. In conclusion, the lipidic extract of G. longissima on account of its antimicrobial activity, nutritional value and content in biodegradable and biocompatible polyester represents an interesting potential biotechnological resource.

Autore Pugliese

• Fanizzi Francesco Paolo

Tutti gli autori

• L. Stabili , M. I. Acquaviva , F. Biandolino , R. A. Cavallo , S. A. De Pascali , F. P. Fanizzi , M. Narracci , A. Petrocelli , E. Cecere

Titolo volume/Rivista

NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

1871-6784

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

17

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

20

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile