Roberto Mioso

Marine sponge lectins: actual status on properties and biological activities.

Marine sponges are primitive metazoans that produce a wide variety of molecules that protect them against predators. In studies that search for bioactive molecules, these marine invertebrates stand out as promising sources of new biologically-active molecules, many of which are still unknown or little studied; thus being an unexplored biotechnological resource of high added value. Among these molecules, lectins are proteins that reversibly bind to carbohydrates without modifying them. In this review, various structural features and biological activities of lectins derived from marine sponges so far described in the scientific literature are discussed. From the results found in the literature, it could be concluded that lectins derived from marine sponges are structurally diverse proteins with great potential for application in the production of biopharmaceuticals, especially as antibacterial and antitumor agents.

Structural characterization and metabolite profiling of the facultative marine fungus Paecilomyces variotii

A new Paecilomyces variotii strain was isolated from the marine habitat. The fungal biomass necessary for the chemical study was produced with success, at a laboratory scale. A total of 28 structural groups were identified from volatile compounds that, in the main, are normal lipid compounds involved in the fatty acid pathway, fragments from their catabolism, terpenoids, and a metabolite from the shikimic acid route. In addition, two non-volatile compounds, triolein and ergosterol peroxide, were isolated and identified by spectroscopy. This is the first report to describe these compounds for the species P. variotii, suggesting its potential use as a natural source to produce nutraceuticals and functional foods.

The Chemical Diversity of the Ascomycete Fungus Paecilomyces variotii

Paecilomyces variotii isolated from a broad range of habitats drives the diversification of new high-value-added secondary metabolites that could potentially play an important role in human and animal health. These metabolites include the anhydride metabolite of the nonadride family, as well as the following compounds: naphthopyranone metabolites, sphingofungins, eicosenoic acids, new branched fatty acids, ascofuranone, polyketides, an anacardic acid analogue, straight-chain peptides, and volatile compounds. These natural products show that P. variotii can provide leading compounds for new drug discoveries, which may include herbicide agents, some of which are important in the agrochemical market. Finally, this review outlines recent developments, trends, and prospects for the chemistry of this ascomycete.

Química de productos naturales aplicada a la acuicultura: una revisión interdisciplinar

This review sought to highlight the importance of natural products versus synthetic products, as bioactive molecules, towards the development of better management practices in aquaculture. The nature, structure, activity, and applications of these naturally-occurring high value-added compounds are described, as well as the methodology used for their study. Examples include the well-known rotenone, eugenol, forskolin, isatin, malyngamide, chlorodesmine, pachydictyol, fimbrolide, and other potentially active molecules in aquaculture.

Cytotoxic Compounds Derived from Marine Sponges. A Review (2010–2012)

This extensive review covers research published between 2010 and 2012 regarding new compounds derived from marine sponges, including 62 species from 60 genera belonging to 33 families and 13 orders of the Demospongia class (Porifera). The emphasis is on the cytotoxic activity that bioactive metabolites from sponges may have on cancer cell lines. At least 197 novel chemical structures from 337 compounds isolated have been found to support this work. Details on the source and taxonomy of the sponges, their geographical occurrence, and a range of chemical structures are presented. The compounds discovered from the reviewed marine sponges fall into mainly four chemical classes: terpenoids (41.9%), alkaloids (26.2%), macrolides (8.9%) and peptides (6.3%) which, along with polyketides, sterols, and others show a range of biological activities. The key sponge orders studied in the reviewed research were Dictyoceratida, Haplosclerida, Tetractinellida, Poecilosclerida, and Agelasida. Petrosia, Haliclona (Haplosclerida), Rhabdastrella (Tetractinellida), Coscinoderma and Hyppospongia (Dictyioceratida), were found to be the most promising genera because of their capacity for producing new bioactive compounds. Several of the new compounds and their synthetic analogues have shown in vitro cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activities against various tumor/cancer cell lines, and some of them will undergo further in vivo evaluation.

Biomolecules produced in liquid-state fermentation by a marine-derived fungus, Penicillium roqueforti

Screening of biomass of a new marine-derived strain of Penicillium roqueforti, as produced by liquid-state fermentation, led to the identification of several volatile organic compounds active in the fatty acid pathway as well as fragments produced by their catabolism, terpenoids, and metabolites from the shikimic acid pathway. In addition, five non-volatile organic compounds, triolein, ergosterol peroxide, 9(11)-dehydroergosterol peroxide, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and d-mannitol, were isolated and identified by spectroscopy. The results showed that this fungal strain did not produce any mycotoxin in the culture conditions applied, and thus is useful for industrial applications, where high value-added biomolecules are generated.

Metabolite profiling of Schizochytrium sp. by GC-MS, an oleaginous microbial source of biodiesel

The chemical screening carried out on Schizochytrium sp. biomass led the identification of 24 types of organic compounds belonging to n-alkanes, 1-alkenes, 1-alkanols, free fatty acids, methyl and ethyl esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, saturated tri- and diglycerides, unsaturated monoglycerides, wax esters, sterols, triterpenes, and mono- and sesquiterpenes. Moreover, a sample containing fully saturated ethyl biodiesel was obtained experimentally with a yield of 28.72% w/w of the crude extract, and an average chain length of 15.52 carbons. This strain produced no toxins, but showed important nutrients, making it potentially applicable to the field of functional food, and biodiesel production.

Synthesis and Antileishmanial Activity of Natural Dehydrodieugenol and Its Mono- and Dimethyl Ethers.

The study of chemistry of naturally occurring compounds and the synthesis of their derivatives is fundamentally important for the development of new drugs. In this work, dehydrodieugenol (DHDE) was obtained through oxidative coupling of eugenol, promoted by an aqueous mixture of potassium ferricyanide (K3[Fe(CN)6]) and NH3 · H2O. The partial methoxylation of DHDE with MeI and K2CO3 mainly resulted in the molecular‐shaped monomethyl ether (DHDE‐1MeO) and its dimethyl ether derivative (DHDE‐2MeO). The products from the reactions were characterized by 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, these studies have reported the antileishmanial activity of DHDE against Leishmania amazonensis (IC50 value of 42.20 μg ml−1) and shown that partial methoxylation of DHDE results in a significant increase in its antiparasitic activity (IC50 value of 13.68 μg ml−1). Based on in vitro bioassays, DHDE‐1MeO has shown the highest leishmanicidal activity in promastigota form. Production by direct one‐step synthesis of this monomethoxylated compound can be considered to be a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly method with a short reaction time.

Extraction of nutraceuticals from Spirulina (blue‐green alga): A bioorganic chemistry practice using thin‐layer chromatography

Spirulina is a blue‐green alga (cyanobacteria) with high nutritive value. This work provides an innovative and original approach to the consideration of a bioorganic chemistry practice, using Spirulina for the separation of phytochemicals with nutraceutical characteristics via thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) plates. The aim is to bring together current research, theory, and practice, and always in accordance with pedagogical ideas.

Synthesis of natural phenylpropanoid esters via conventional chemical reactions

1 Post-Graduate Program in Natural Products and Bioactives, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, 58051-900, PB, Brazil 2 Department of Chemistry, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Spain Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, 58051-900, PB, Brazil Post-Graduate Program in Development and Technological Innovation in Medicines, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, 58051-900, PB, Brazil