Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
LYNGBYA
S P.
Phylum: Cyanobacteria
Class: Cyanophyceae
Order: Oscillatoriales
Family: Oscillatoriaceae
Habitat: Freshwater habitats
Description: This macroscopic ilamentous, unidentiied species has thick
solitary ilaments that are usually connected to thick layered leathery strata
(mats). The trichomes (5 µm) are isopolar, straight, or fairly waved. The
discoid cells are either barrel shaped or cylindrical.
Compounds and activities: This unidentiied species has been reported to be
a source of neurotoxins and drugs, and its bioactive compound, pahayo-
kolide A, showed inhibitory activities against a number of cancer cell lines
besides showing antimicrobial activities against
Bacillus
spp.
and yeast,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
.
OSCILLATORIA LIMNETICA
LEMMERMANN, 1900
Phylum: Cyanobacteria Class: Cyanophyceae
Order: Oscillatoriales Family: Oscillatoriaceae
Distribution: Europe, Southwest Asia, Australia, New Zealand
Habitat: Freshwater habitats
Description: This species is motile by gliding movements. The trichome is
straight and unbranched. The photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll
a
is pres-
ent in the cells that are vegetative.
Compounds and activities: The bioactive compounds isolated from this spe-
cies include carotenoids, phycocyanin, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids,
and unsaponiiable compounds. The hexane extracts of this plant have also
shown smooth muscle-relaxing properties. The unsaturated fatty acids iso-
lated include oleic and linoleic acids. The unsaponiiable compounds of this
species include cholesterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. The phycocyanin
(0.18 mg/ml) of this species inhibits the growth of human leukemia k562
cells besides possessing antiviral properties against herpes simplex virus
type 2 and hypocholesterolemic activities. Further, the hexane extract of this
species possesses smooth muscle relaxing activity, i.e., antispasmodic, anti-
cholinergic, and antihistamine properties (Gutierrez and Solis, 2007).
