Search results for "Seaweed"
showing 10 items of 45 documents
Wild food plants of popular use in Sicily
2007
Abstract In the present work the authors report the result of their food ethnobotanical researches, which have been carried out in Sicily during the last thirty years. Data concerning 188 wild species used in the traditional Sicilian cuisine are reported. The authors underline those species that are partially or completely unknown for their culinary use and they illustrate other species that local inhabitants suggested in the prevention or treatment of symptomatologies caused by a refined diet, poor in vegetables. These data want to contribute to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on uses and recipes concerning wild food botanicals, and to encourage further studies for those species th…
A chemometric approach to evaluate the impact of pulses, Chlorella and Spirulina on proximate composition, amino acid, and physicochemical properties…
2019
Changes in physicochemical parameters, proximate composition, amino acid and taste profiles of turkey burgers enriched at 1% with soy (control), pulses, Chlorella and Spirulina proteins were studied. Results: Color parameters, pH, ash content, total, essential and non-essential amino acids were significantly different among the different type of turkey burgers prepared. In this regard, turkey burgers made with pea protein presented the highest values for pH and lightness, whereas the samples prepared with broad bean showed the highest redness. The inclusion of bean and seaweed produced a marked increase of glutamic acid, lysine and aspartic acid. However, the taste profile was similar in th…
Antioxidant potential of Himanthalia elongata for protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the small bowel
2016
Seaweed has been associated with the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases related to oxidative stress because of its antioxidant activity. We investigated the protective potential of extract of Himanthalia elongata against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the intestine of rats.Seventy-two (72) male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into 12 groups as follows: sham, I/R only, I/R plus vehicle at 3 time points, and I/R plus extract at 3 time points. The degree of intestinal injury was determined by oxidative stress using lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase after mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion. A histological study was also perf…
The invasive seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis erodes the habitat structure and biodiversity of native algal forests in the Mediterranean Sea
2021
Abstract Invasive seaweeds are listed among the most relevant threats to marine ecosystems worldwide. Biodiversity hotspots, such as the Mediterranean Sea, are facing multiple invasions and are expected to be severely affected by the introduction of new non-native seaweeds in the near future. In this study, we evaluated the consequences of the shift from the native Ericaria brachycarpa to the invasive Asparagopsis taxiformis habitat on the shallow rocky shores of Favignana Island (Egadi Islands, MPA, Sicily, Italy). We compared algal biomass and species composition and structure of the associated epifaunal assemblages in homogenous and mixed stands of E. brachycarpa and A. taxiformis. The r…
Multistage recovery process of seaweed pigments: Investigation of ultrasound assisted extraction and ultra-filtration performances
2017
International audience; The objectives of this study were first to evaluate the performance of seaweed pigments’ recovery through ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and ultra-filtration (UF), and second to investigate the membrane fouling mechanism and evidence the threshold flux during filtration. The pigments’ recovery from the extract was performed using 5 kDa and 10 kDa ultra-filtration membranes. Results showed that increasing the extraction temperature in the range of 40–60 °C was proportional to chlorophyll extraction efficiency, while the maximal carotenoid yield was achieved at 50 °C. Ultrasonic power (from 100 W to 300 W) facilitated the extraction of both chlorophylls and carot…
Fucus vesiculosus extracts as natural antioxidants for improvement of physicochemical properties and shelf life of pork patties formulated with oleog…
2018
There is limited information in the literature concerning the feasibility of using algal extracts as natural additives for improvement of the quality and shelf-life ofmeat products. Hence, a Fucus vesiculosus extract (FVE) at the concentrations of 250mg kg-1 (FVE-250), 500mg kg-1 (FVE-500) and 1000mg kg-1 (FVE-1000) were added to pork patties with linseed oil oleogel as a fat replacer. RESULTS: Total polyphenol content of FVE was determined to be 20 g phloroglucinol equivalents 100 g-1 extract. Antioxidant values ranged from 37.5 𝛍mol of Trolox equivalents (TE) g-1 (FRAP assay) to 2111 𝛍mol TE g-1 extract (ABTS assay). Regarding oxidation stability, FVE-1000 showed the lowest values of th…
Macroalgae transplant to detect the occurrence of anthropogenic nutrients in seawater of highly tourist beaches in Mediterranean islands
2020
In the Mediterranean region, islands are among the most important tourist destinations, being sites of considerable naturalistic, historical and cultural importance. This is highly beneficial for local economies, but may also represent a threat for the environment, especially during the peak season (i.e. summer). Indeed, the sharp demographic increase concentrated in a relatively short period may negatively affect the quality of coastal marine systems and the provision of ecosystem services, producing in turn negative feedbacks on tourism industry. Nevertheless, the assessment of the environmental impact of tourism on coastal seawater has been seldom addressed. Here, we show the results of …
Food selection of a generalist herbivore exposed to native and alien seaweeds
2018
Understanding which factors influence the invasion of alien seaweed has become a central concern in ecology. Increasing evidence suggests that the feeding preferences of native herbivores influence the success of alien seaweeds in the new community. We investigated food selection of a generalist native grazer Paracentrotus lividus, in the presence of two alien seaweeds (Caulerpa cylindracea and Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla) and two native seaweeds (Dictyopteris membranacea and Cystoseira compressa). Sea urchins were fed with six experimental food items: C. cylindracea, C. taxifolia var. distichophylla, a mixture of C. cylindracea and C. taxifolia var. distichophylla, D. membranace…
The Stagnone of Marsala lagoon
2009
The Stagnone of Marsala is an oligotrophic lagoon situated on the western coast of Sicily. The area has been under study since the mid-nineteenth century. Research has focused on its physiographic, chemical-physical, biological, ecological features and, particularly, on submerged vegetation. Its main biotic component, a meadow of Posidonia oceanica, is distributed among peculiar reef formations inside and outside the lagoon, which are extremely interesting from an ecological and environmental point of view. The seagrass grows near to its thermal and salinity tolerance level in the inner lagoon, where it is partially replaced by Cymodocea nodosa and Caulerpa prolifera meadows. Algal assembla…
Ocean acidification bends the mermaid's wineglass
2015
Ocean acidification lowers the saturation state of calcium carbonate, decreasing net calcification and compromising the skeletons of organisms such as corals, molluscs and algae. These calcified structures can protect organisms from predation and improve access to light, nutrients and dispersive currents. While some species (such as urchins, corals and mussels) survive with decreased calcification, they can suffer from inferior mechanical performance. Here, we used cantilever beam theory to test the hypothesis that decreased calcification would impair the mechanical performance of the green alga Acetabularia acetabulum along a CO 2 gradient created by volcanic seeps off Vulcano, Italy. Cal…