Ashkenazi Doron Yehoshua, Figueroa Félix L, Vega Julia, Ben-Valid Shoshana, Paz Guy, Salomon Eitan, Abelson Avigdor, Israel Álvaro
School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv-Yafo 69978, Israel.
Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, Ltd. (PBC), Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 2336, Haifa 3102201, Israel.
Mar Drugs. 2025 Aug 4;23(8):320. doi: 10.3390/md23080320.
Macroalgae (seaweeds) produce unique bioactive metabolites that have enabled their survival for millions of years, offering significant potential for human benefits. In the Israeli Mediterranean Sea, no comprehensive systematic surveys of seaweeds have been published since the 1990s, and their chemical composition remains largely unexplored. This study presents an extensive survey of intertidal seaweed communities along the shallow Israeli coastline, documenting their spatial, temporal, and biochemical diversity. Of the 320 specimens collected, 55 seaweed species were identified: 29 red (Rhodophyta), 14 brown (Phaeophyceae), and 12 green (Chlorophyta). A significant shift in species abundance was documented, with a single dominant annual bloom occurring during spring, unlike previously reported biannual blooms. Chemical analysis of the dominant species revealed significant seasonal variations in compound levels, with higher protein content in winter and increased antioxidant capacity during spring. Phenolic and natural sunscreen compounds (mycosporine-like amino acids, MAAs) showed no general seasonal trend. These findings highlight the optimal environmental conditions for seaweed growth and underscore their potential for aquaculture and biotechnology. We hypothesize that the ecologically unique conditions of the Israeli Mediterranean Sea may foster resilient seaweed species enriched with distinctive chemical properties, suitable for nutritional, health, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical applications, particularly as climate-adaptive bioresources.
大型海藻(海草)产生独特的生物活性代谢物,这些代谢物使它们得以存活数百万年,具有极大的造福人类的潜力。自20世纪90年代以来,以色列地中海海域尚未发表过关于海藻的全面系统调查,其化学成分在很大程度上仍未被探索。本研究对以色列浅海沿岸潮间带海藻群落进行了广泛调查,记录了它们的空间、时间和生化多样性。在收集的320个标本中,鉴定出55种海藻:29种红藻(红藻门)、14种褐藻(褐藻纲)和12种绿藻(绿藻门)。记录到物种丰度发生了显著变化,春季出现了一次单一的优势年度藻华,与之前报道的两年一次的藻华不同。对优势物种的化学分析显示,化合物水平存在显著的季节性变化,冬季蛋白质含量较高,春季抗氧化能力增强。酚类和天然防晒化合物(类菌孢素氨基酸,MAAs)没有呈现出一般的季节性趋势。这些发现突出了海藻生长的最佳环境条件,并强调了它们在水产养殖和生物技术方面的潜力。我们推测,以色列地中海独特的生态条件可能培育出具有独特化学性质的适应性强的海藻物种,适合用于营养、健康、制药和营养保健品应用,特别是作为适应气候变化的生物资源。