Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Compounds and activities: The total lipid content (%) of this species was found
to be 22.22 ± 0.32. The percent of total
n
saturated fatty acids (hexadecanoic
acid) was 60%, and that of unsaturated fatty acids (9,12-octadecadienoic
acid) was 40%. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of this species
play an important role in human metabolic pathways, particularly as spe-
ciic precursors for prostaglandin E1, an important compound necessary for
reducing inlammation and in treatment of heart disease (Sharathchandra
and Rajashekhar, 2011). The bioactive compounds isolated from this spe-
cies, viz., palmitic acid and linoleic acid, have been reported to possess
antidiabetic properties.
CHROOMONAS PLACOIDEA
BUTCHER, 1967
Phylum: Cryptophyta
Class: Cryptophyceae
Order: Pyrenomonadales
Family: Chroomonadaceae
Distribution: Mexico
Habitat: Lakes, marine habitats
Description: This cryptomonad (cryptophyte) species has large, elliptic, bilagel-
late free-swimming, motile cells that often form thick, mucilaginous, palmel-
loid, blue, blue-green, or green colonies. The cells possess a single chloroplast
and pyrenoid with pigments, viz., phycocyanin and phycobiliprotein.
Compounds and activities: This species has yielded n-3 (α-linoleic acid, eicosa-
pentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) and n-6 (linolenic acid and ara-
chidonic acid) (i.e., omega-3 and -6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)
and 24-ethylcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol. The omega-3 PUFAs improve both
systolic and diastolic heart functions besides lowering inlammatory bio-
markers. Further, PUFA 3 acids have been reported to reduce total and
LDL cholesterol; thereby, they could be used as second-line therapy in the
treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia.
TRAPA BISPINOSA
ROXB
