Seaweeds are widely used in the life science as source of compounds with diverse structural forms and biological activities, therefore, potential source of new antioxidant activity. The algae of the Black Sea have not been adequately explored for their potential as a source of bioactive substances. In this context, Brown algae Cystoseira barbata isolated from Black Sea coastal waters of Romania, were evaluated for their bioactivity potential. The results from Cystoseira barbata were obtained: for total phenolic content obtained in ethanolic extracts (TPC): 385.6 � 1.85 mg GAE/100 g f.w. Phenolic Acids quantified by HPLC-DAD from hydroethanolic extract of Cystoseira barbata from Black Sea was 80.14% from total phenolic content identified. We showed that Cystoseira barbata from the Romanian shore of the Black Sea contains vanillic acid in highest quantity (99.5�0.08 mg/100 g f.w.), followed by benzoic acid (65.7�0.06 mg/100 g f.w.) and feluric acid (54.5�0.01 mg/100 g f.w.). The smallest quantities were for gallic acid (3.5�0.03 mg/100 g f.w.), pyrogallol acid (4.2�0.05 mg/100 g f.w.) and 4-amino-benzoic acid (5.2�0.09 mg/100 g f.w.). Cystoseira barbata has a total content of large phenols and also has strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Antioxidant activity (ACL) was studied using DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The extracts containing high levels of total phenolic content were also potent DPPH radical scavengers. The IC50 (�g/mL) for Cystoseira barbata in methanolic extract was 942.92� 2.56 �g/mL. High absorbance obtained from reducing power assay indicates high reducing power, measured values of absorbance varied from 0.0901 at 0.9223.

Chitin and chitosan have become of great interest not only as underutilized resources, but also as new functional materials of high potential in various fields. The methods of isolating chitosan from different sources: shrimp (Panaeus monodon), crab (Scylla olivicea and Scylla serrata), locust (Schistocerca gregaria), honeybee (Apis mellifera), beelte (Calosoma rugosa) and fish (Labeo rohita) were compared. The same steps of demineralization and deproteinization were followed for the chemical extraction of chitin, but the concentration of reagents, the temperatures and reaction times were varied, which resulted in chitosans with different degrees of deacetylation.

Psoriasis has a multifactorial pathogenesis and recently it was shown that alterations in the skin and intestinal microbiome are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Therefore, microbiome restoration becomes a promising preventive/therapy strategy in psoriasis. In our pre-clinical study design using a mice model of induced psoriatic dermatitis (Ps) we have tested the proof-of-concept that IgY raised against pathological human bacteria resistant to antibiotics can alleviate psoriatic lesions and restore deregulated immune cell parameters. Besides clinical evaluation of the mice and histology of the developed psoriatic lesions, cellular immune parameters were monitored. Immune cells populations/subpopulations from peripheral blood and spleen cell suspensions that follow the clinical improvement were assessed using flow cytometry. We have quantified T lymphocytes (CD3ε+) with T-helper (CD4+CD8−) and T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8a+CD4−) subsets, B lymphocytes (CD3ε−CD19+) and NK cells (CD3ε−NK1.1+). Improved clinical evolution of the induced Ps along with the restoration of immune cells parameters were obtained when orally IgY was administered. We pin-point that IgY specific compound can be used as a possible pre-biotic-like alternative adjuvant in psoriasis.

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Research in healthcare involves the use of natural resources in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. Chito-oligosaccharides (CHOS) are described as homo- or heterooligomers of N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucosamine. As a starting material for CHOS production chitin or chitosan can be used. When it comes to the medical field, there are indications that CHOS may be developed and used as drugs against asthma, antibacterial agents, ingredients in wound-dressings and vectors in gene-therapy. The methods of production can rely on enzymatic conversions, chemical methods or combinations of these methods. There is ample literature concerning the biological effects of chitosans, but relatively little is known about the effects of CHOS, and the mechanisms behind observed bioactivities are generally poorly understood. This review is focused on the characterization of chitin and chitosan by presenting the biological properties, and on the enzymatic production of CHOS, and on further separation and purification methods for producing well-defined mixtures and also provides an overview of some of the most promising applications of CHOS.