Oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to numerous chronic diseases. Marine green algae of the Caulerpa genus are rich in bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant activity. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the intracellular antioxidant effects of caulerpin (CAU) and its derivative caulerpinic acid (CA) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a eukaryotic model. Methods: Yeast cells were pretreated with 1 μM of CAU or CA, or with 1 μM of resveratrol (RESV) as a positive control, then exposed to 2 mM of H2O2. Growth, ROS levels, oxidative damage markers, and antioxidant defenses were assessed. Results: Both CAU and CA significantly improved cell survival under oxidative stress, restoring growth rates (CAU: 0.129 h−1, CA: 0.137 h−1) and doubling times (CAU: 5.38 h, CA: 5.07 h) close to control values. Intracellular ROS accumulation, protein carbonylation, and lipid peroxidation were reduced to near-baseline levels. While catalase (Cat) and superoxide dismutase (Sod) activity remained unchanged, CAU and CA elevated intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels (1.6–1.8 fold) and preserved glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, compared to stressed cells without antioxidant pretreatment. Conclusions: CAU and CA act as effective intracellular antioxidants, primarily via ROS scavenging and GSH-dependent pathways. These findings support their potential as natural candidates for developing antioxidant-based therapies against ROS-related disorders.
Marine algal metabolites as cellular antioxidants: a study of caulerpin and caulerpinic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
G Assalve;P Lunetti;A Fai;V ZaraCo-ultimo
;A Ferramosca
Co-ultimo
2025-01-01
Abstract
Oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to numerous chronic diseases. Marine green algae of the Caulerpa genus are rich in bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant activity. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the intracellular antioxidant effects of caulerpin (CAU) and its derivative caulerpinic acid (CA) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a eukaryotic model. Methods: Yeast cells were pretreated with 1 μM of CAU or CA, or with 1 μM of resveratrol (RESV) as a positive control, then exposed to 2 mM of H2O2. Growth, ROS levels, oxidative damage markers, and antioxidant defenses were assessed. Results: Both CAU and CA significantly improved cell survival under oxidative stress, restoring growth rates (CAU: 0.129 h−1, CA: 0.137 h−1) and doubling times (CAU: 5.38 h, CA: 5.07 h) close to control values. Intracellular ROS accumulation, protein carbonylation, and lipid peroxidation were reduced to near-baseline levels. While catalase (Cat) and superoxide dismutase (Sod) activity remained unchanged, CAU and CA elevated intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels (1.6–1.8 fold) and preserved glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, compared to stressed cells without antioxidant pretreatment. Conclusions: CAU and CA act as effective intracellular antioxidants, primarily via ROS scavenging and GSH-dependent pathways. These findings support their potential as natural candidates for developing antioxidant-based therapies against ROS-related disorders.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
