Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of Asparagopsis armata exudate in fish cells

• Autor(a) principal: Vedor, Joana Sofia Martins
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/30853
• topic: Asparagopsis armata; Fish cell lines; Cytotoxicity; Biomarkers

The oceans present an enormous importance on our planet, representing almost 99% of the planet's living space. Its vastness gives the illusion of resistance to anthropogenic activity and infinite resources that has led to inappropriate exploitation over the years. A consequence of anthropogenic pressures the introduction of non-native species poses a devastating threat to biodiversity. The red macroalgae Asparagopsis armata, originally from Western Australia, is now distributed all over the planet and is abundant along the Portuguese coast. This species represents a threat to native species since it produces potentially toxic exudates, becoming highly invasive, predatorless and with high growth rates. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of Asparagopsis armata exudates, using in vitro assays. Therefore, its cytotoxicity was evaluated for a cell line of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), a fish species of high commercial value at national and European level. Assays were performed for 24 h, where cell viability was assessed, using the MTT and Resazurin reduction assay, and biochemical responses associated with antioxidant activity and biotransformation were evaluated after 24 h exposure. Overall, the data revealed that cell viability of gilthead seabream fish cells is significantly reduced when exposed to more than 25% A. armata exudate. It also induces an increase in non-protein thiol activity, indicative of an increased non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity in response to toxic compounds present in the exudate.