MACROALGA EXTRACT EFFECT’S ON BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES OF SEA URCHINS ARBACIA LIXULA (Linnaeus, 1758)

Marine algae produce important secondary metabolites that vary between the different species, spatial distribution and the seasonal period. The production of these secondary metabolites by macroalgae allows to protect themselves from environmental stress conditions (competitors, pathogens, grazers, epiphytes). Several studies report different biological properties of the extracts or molecules obtained from these macroalgae such us: immunomodulatory (RAPOSO et al., 2016), antioxidant (FISCH et al., 2003), anticancer (ABU-KHUDIR et al., 2021) and antimicrobial (PINTEUS et al., 2015). In light of that, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extract the macroalga Ericaria crinita (J. Agardh, Molinari and Guiry, 2020), on the innate immune system of sea urchin A. lixula. The animals were in vivo treated with macroalgae extract and the effects were analysed after three hours sampling coelomic fluid in which total cells counts were evaluated. Then, the cells were separated from cell free. On cellular lysate and on cell free protein concentration, enzyme activity and antioxidant responses (inhibition of oxidative stress through the evaluation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) and glutathione (GSH) levels) were evaluated. Our results showed important changes in enzymatic activities and decrease in the inflammatory marker nitric oxide (NO). Further studies are needed to better understand the action of these bioactive molecules however, these results are certainly encouraging and prompt us to investigate the potential use that can be made of these compounds produced by macroalgae in the bio-medical and industrial fields.