Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Distribution: Central and South America, Africa, Europe, Southwest Asia
Habitat: Lakes and warm alkaline brackish waters
Description: This species has microscopic, free-loating ilaments that are dark
green and spirally coiled. Its photosynthetic pigments include chlorophylls,
carotenoids, and phycocyanin. This species is known for its high protein
content (70% by dry weight) of high nutritional values. Vitamin B12 and
trace minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium,
selenium, zinc, and biolavonoids are also present in this species.
Compounds and activities: The bioactive compounds of this species include
saturated fatty acids; unsaturated fatty acids, like oleic and linoleic acids;
and unsaponiaiable compounds, such as cholesterol, campesterol, stigmas-
terol, β -sitosterol, and nitrocyclohexane-2-hexyl-l, which are known for
their antimicrobial, antioxidative, antiviral, and immunostimulating activi-
ties. Among the different compounds, nitrocyclohexane-2-hexyl-1 showed
a maximum activity of 92.1% (Al-Wathnani et al., 2012). The methanol
extracts of this species have shown the presence of a bioactive compound,
viz., quercetin, which has antibacterial activities against pathogenic bacte-
ria such as
E. coli
,
Salmonella typhimurium
,
and
Streptococcus faecalis
.
The immune-stimulating and antiviral properties are achieved by activating
microphages, NK cells, T cells, and B cells and stimulating the production
of interferon γ and other cytokines. The natural substances present in this
species are known to inhibit several viruses by blocking viral absorption,
penetration, and replication. The phycocyanin content of this species has
been reported to act against herpes simplex virus type 2, besides inhibiting
the growth of human leukemia k562 cells. Further, this compound inlu-
ences serum cholesterol concentration and imparts a potent hypocholester-
olem ic act ivit y.
LIMNOTHRIX REDEKEI
(VAN. GOOR) M.E. MEFFERT
(=
OSCILLATORIA REDEKEI
)
Phylum: Cyanobacteria
Class: Cyanophyceae
Order: Pseudanabaenales
Family: Pseudanabaenaceae
Distribution: Europe, North America
Habitat: Freshwater habitats
Description: This free-loating and ilamentous species has solitary ilaments
that are straight, slightly curved, or irregularly screw-like coiled. These
many-celled ilaments are isopolar and without any sheath or with a ine
colorless facultative sheath. The trichome is cylindrical and is composed
of cells (2-6 µm wide) that do not taper at the ends. However, cylindrical
apical cells are usually present in the trichome. The cells are yellowish or
pinkish and produce facultative gas vesicles. The heterocysts and akinetes
are, however, absent.
