Estudio de metabolitos secundarios de especies endémicas canarias de los géneros tolpis y pulicaria. Aplicaciones quimiotaxonómicas de actividad biológica = Study of secondary metabolites of endemic canary species from the genera Tolpis and Pulicaria: chemotaxomonic and biological activity applications

Doctorado en Ciencias Químicas

Secondary metabolites from two species of ·Tolpis and their biological activities

[EN] Phytochemical research of two Tolpis species, T. proustii and T. lagopoda, led to the isolation of three new compounds: 30-chloro-3beta-acetoxy-22alfa-hydroxyl-20(21)- taraxastene (1), 3beta,22alfa-diacetoxy-30-ethoxy-20(21)-taraxastene (2) and 3beta,28-dihydroxy- 11alfa-hydroperoxy-12-ursene (3). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of extensive IR, NMR, and MS data and by comparison of data reported in the literature. The in vitro antioxidant activities of the extracts were assessed by the DPPH and ABTS scavenging methods. The cytotoxicity of several known compounds and its derivatives was also assessed against human myeloid leukemia K-562 and K-562/ADR cell lines.

Farming Nitrifiers: Main factors and parameters for maintaining healthy cultures

[EN] The atmospheric CO2 level is rising. Its greenhouse effect is partially mitigated by terrestrial (plants) and marine photosynthetic organisms (algae, phytoplankton), and also by the less-known chemosynthetic bacteria. Within this group of bacteria, nitrifiers have a direct and indirect impact on carbon fixation because, on one hand, they are autotrophs and, on the other, they release inorganic nitrogenous nutrients that feed other photoautotrophs. A new assay which simplifies the measurement of nitrification would improve our knowledge about the ocean’s capacity to fix CO2. Knowing how to cultivate these microbes from marine water samples is a first step towards developing new nitrification detection techniques. During the last six months, we have isolated and cultured a natural assembledge of marine nitrifiers. Our larger objective is to develop a way to enzymatically detect nitrification. However, to do this, we need large quantities of nitrifiers. Consequently, at this point, culturing this marine nitrifier community is our priority. We have learned that pH, nutrient levels, air flow, temperature, low light and sterility are critical for growing healthy nitrifiers. With this knowledge we will now be able to conduct experiments with the nitrifiers and develop the methodology that we seek.

Efecto de la irradiación y el flujo de nutrientes sobre el contenido en polisacáridos ácidos en macroalgas cultivadas

Máster Oficial en Cultivos Marinos. Trabajo presentado como requisito parcial para la obtención del Título de Máster Oficial en Cultivos Marinos, otorgado por la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), el Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas (ICCM), y el Centro Internacional de Altos Estudios Agronómicos Mediterráneos de Zaragoza (CIHEAM)