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Title of Thesis
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF ALGAE FROM INLAND WATERS OF BALOCHISTAN
Author(s)
MUDASSIR ISRAR
Institute/ University/ Department Details
UNIVERSITY OF BALOCHISTAN/BIOCHEMISTRY
Status (Published/ Not Published/ In Press etc)
Published
Date of Publishing
1995
Subject
Biochemistry
Number of Pages
253
Keywords (Extracted from title, table of contents and abstract of thesis)
Biochemical Studies, Algae, Fresh water algae, Algal flora, Chara vulgaris Linneaus, Cladophora fracta
(Dillw) Kutz, Spirogyra webri Kutz, Oscillatoria subbrevis Suchmidle, Ash content, Lipids, Carbohydrates,
Proteins, Inorganic elemental composition, Fatty acid, Hydrocarbons, Terpene, Sterols, Pennisetum,
Abstract
Increase in human population and limited sources of food, compelled the scientists to investigate new
sources for food. The present study comprises of ecological, biochemical and chemical studies on fresh
water algae of Balochistan. The composition and seasonal distribution of fresh water algae collected from
twenty localities of Balochistan were investigated. 729 species with 120 genera were identified. These
belonged to five divisions of algae species showed a distinct seasonal pattern. Water samples were
analyzed for their chemical characteristics and for the levels of radioactivity. The correlation of these
chemicals with the algal flora has been established. Among the dominant algae four species were selected
for the biochemical and chemical studies namely Chara vulgaris Linneaus, Cladophorafracta (Dillw) Kutz.
Spirogyra weberi Kutz..,belonged to green algae while Oscillatoria subbrevis Schmidle, belonged to blue
green algae. The ash content, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and inorganic elemental composition of these
algae were determined. Significantly high ash, lipids, carbohydrates and protein were found in Spirogyra
weberi which proved it, to be a good source of food. These content were high in green algae than those
found in blue green algae. A variety of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, hydrocarbons, terpene and
sterols have been reported for the first time from these algae. These were identified quantitatively and
qualitatively through different spectroscopic techniques including EI, HR-MS, GC-MS, IHNMR, 1HNMR
and 13CNMR and 2D experiments. Quantitative and qualititative micro, macroelements and heavy metal
concentration of these four algae were analyzed. Significantly high calcium content were found in these
algae as compare to other elements. Antifungal activity of the ethanolic algal extracts was carried out
against ten fungal strains. Chara vulgaris, Cladophora fracta and Oscillatoria subbrevis exhibit strong
antifungal activity, while Spirogyra weberi showed no activity against any of the fungi tested. The
antibacterial activity of the four ethanolic algal extracts has been carried out in vitro against gram positive
and gram negative bacteria. The algal extracts showed no antibacterial activity against these bacteria. Brine
shrimp toxicity test was carried out on all the four crude ethanolic algal extracts. No toxicity was found in
any algae. Allelopathic effects of these algal extracts were tested towards the Pennisetun seeds. It was
found that C. vulgaris, C. fracta and S. weberi inhibit the growth' of Pennisetun seeds at very high
concentration. O. subbrevis was found to be growth promoter at al concentrations. The dried four algae
were baked in bread and fed to wistar rats, their growth and weight were observed. The rats fed with S.
weberi showed good growth and attained a significant increase in body weight with reference to control
rats. The hypotensive and hypertensive pharmacological activity of all algal extracts were carried out on
wistar rats C. vulgaris and C. fracta lowered the blood pressure, respiratory and heart rate by 30%, while
other two algae were found to be ineffective.
Table of Contents
Chapter
Page
Certificate
i
Acknowledgement
ii
List of Contents
iii
List of Tables
v
List of Figures
vii
ABSTRACT
ix
I
INTRODUCTION
1
1.
6
Description of Localities and their Climatic Conditions
II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
21
III
MATERIAL AND METHODS
32
A
1.
32
Ecological Studies
Biochemical and Chemical Investigation
2.
Ash Contents
34
3.
Carbohydrates
35
4.
Proteins
36
5.
Lipids
37
6.
Phytochemical Investigations
38
6.1
Instrumentation
39
6.2
Fatty Acid and Hydrocarbons
40
6.3
Saponification and Esterification
41
6.4
Acetylation
41
6.5
Sterols and Terpenes
42
6.6
Micro and Macro Elements & Heavy Metal Concentrations
43
PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING
8.
Anti Fungal Activity
43
9.
Anti Bacterial Activity
44
10.
Toxicity Bioassay
45
11.
Allelopathic Bioassay
46
12.
Nutritional Studies
47
13.
Anti Hypertensive Effect
47
Ecological Survey
111
Chapter IV
A
1.
B
C
V
Biochemical and Chemical Investigation
2.
Ash Cotents
164
3.
Carbohydrates
166
4.
Proteins
167
5.
Lipids
168
6.
Phytochemical Investigations
6.1
Fatty Acids Hydrocarbons & Sterols of Chara vulgaris
170
6.2
Fatty Acids Hydrocarbons Sterols & Terpenes of Cladophora fracta
181
6.3
Fatty Acids Hydrocarbons and Sterols of Spirogyra weberi
197
6.4
Fatty Acids Hydrocarbons and Sterols of Oscillatoria subbrevis
206
6.5
Micro and Macro Elements & Heavy Metal Concentrations
215
PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING
7.
Anti Fungal Activity
220
8.
Anti Bacteriall Activity
222
9.
Toxicity Bioassay
224
10.
Allelopathic Bioassay
229
11.
Nutritional Studies
232
12.
Anti Hypertensive Effect
236
References
238