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Botryococcus braunii and Nannochloropsis oculata extracts inhibit cholinesterases and protect human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells from H2O2-induced cytotoxicity

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Abstract

Extracts of Botryococcus braunii and Nannochloropsis oculata were evaluated for inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and tyrosinase (TYRO) and capacity to attenuate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y. We also report the antioxidant activity, the total phenolic content (TPC) and the fatty acid (FA) profile of these microalgae. Both species had low levels of TPC and considerable amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The highest radical scavenging activity (RSA) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was observed in the acetone extract of B. braunii and in the diethyl ether extracts of both strains. The acetone extract of B. braunii had the highest RSA against 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). The extracts had a higher capacity to chelate iron than copper, and the highest iron chelation was achieved with the hexane extract of N. oculata. The diethyl ether and water extracts of the latter species also displayed the highest copper chelation. Except for the acetone extract of B. braunii and the water extract of N. oculata, all samples inhibited AChE, especially the hexane extract of N. oculata. Samples had moderate BChE inhibition and no effect towards TYRO. Almost all samples effectively protected neuronal cells against oxidative stress induced by H2O2. These results suggest possible novel applications of biomass from those microalgae in the pharmaceutical industry and/or as functional foods.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the SEABIOMED project (PTDC/MAR/103957/2008), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Portuguese National Budget. All the algal species used in this study were provided by NECTON S.A. (Portugal). The authors dedicate this article to the memory of Fernando Soares, whose untimely passing remind us all of the pressing need for novel medical treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Luísa Custódio, Fernando Soares, Hugo Pereira, Maria João Rodrigues, Luísa Barreira & João Varela

  2. Department of Chemistry and Science of Materials, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21007, Huelva, Spain

    Hugo Pereira

  3. Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Ed. C8, Piso 5, 1749-016, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal

    Amélia Pilar Rauter

  4. Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Fernando Alberício

  5. CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Fernando Alberício

  6. Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franqués 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Fernando Alberício

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  1. Luísa Custódio
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  2. Fernando Soares
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  3. Hugo Pereira
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Correspondence to Luísa Custódio.

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Custódio, L., Soares, F., Pereira, H. et al. Botryococcus braunii and Nannochloropsis oculata extracts inhibit cholinesterases and protect human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells from H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. J Appl Phycol 27, 839–848 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-014-0369-4

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