Investigation of Phycobiliproteins in Osmundea caspica (Laurencia) (Zinova & Zaberzhinskaya) Maggs & L.M.McIvor Collected from the Coastal Waters of Nowshahr, Caspian Sea

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University

2 Marine biology group, Faculty of marine science, Tarbiat Modares University, Mazandaran, Noor. Av. Emamreza.

3 Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center

Abstract

Phycobiliproteins, including phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and phycoerythrin, have diverse applications in food, cosmetics, and biomedical industries. Consequently, optimizing extraction conditions and identifying high-yielding species remain critical areas of study. The genus Osmundea is recognized for its significant phycobilin content. This study examines the macroalga Osmundea caspica, a member of the phylum Rhodophyta. The specimens of O. caspica were collected from the Caspian coasts of Sisangan in Mazandaran Province (Iran). The samples were lyophilized and subsequently ground after washing and removal of impurities. The extraction of phycobilins was evaluated using three solvents: distilled water, 100 mM phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and 150 mM PBS (all adjusted to pH 7). Two distinct protocols: freeze-thaw at –20 °C for 24 hours and ultrasonication at a power of 70 W for 10 minutes. The results demonstrated that phycoerythrin exhibited the highest concentration among the extracted phycobilins, with an average of 0.0453 mg/mL, followed by phycocyanin (0.0067 mg/mL) and allophycocyanin (0.0018 mg/mL). Conversely, utilizing distilled water as the extraction solvent in conjunction with the Freeze-thaw Pre-treatment resulted in a greater extraction efficiency when compared to alternative methods. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that the differences in the mean concentrations and purity levels of phycobiliproteins among the extraction methods were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. For concentrations of phycocyanin (F:3.551, df: 5, P< 0.05), allophycocyanin (F: 23.984, df: 5, P< 0.05), phycoerythrin (F: 23.685, df: 5, P< 0.05), total phycobiliproteins yield (F: 18.489, df: 5, P< 0.05), purity of phycocyanin (F: 16.109, df: 5, P< 0.05), allophycocyanin (F: 34.155, df: 5, P< 0.05) and phycoerythrin (F: 25.353, df: 5, P< 0.05). This study presents promising results, particularly regarding the potential of phycoerythrin among the phycobiliproteins of the red alga Osmundea caspica, and offers a clear perspective for further exploitation of this species.

Keywords

References

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Plant, Algae, and Environment
Volume 9, Issue 2
June 2025
Pages 58-70

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