Investigation of antiviral activity of four microalgae and two cyanobacteria extracts on infectious bronchitis virus

Eylem Atak; Büşra Ak; Furkan Ozan Çöven; Ayşe Nalbantsoy; Zeliha Demirel; Meltem Conk Dalay

doi:10.12714/egejfas.43.1.10

TR EN

Enfeksiyöz bronchitis virüsü üzerinde dört mikroalg ve iki siyanobakteri ekstresinin antiviral aktivitesinin araştırılması

Öz

Kozmetik, tıp, çeşitli endüstriyel alanlarda insan ve hayvan gıdası olarak kullanılan mikroalg ve siyanobakterilerin birçok alternatif tedavi yönteminde kullanıldığı birçok çalışmayla ortaya konmuştur. Bu türler, yüksek protein, karbonhidrat ve yağ asidi içerikleri nedeniyle yüksek besin değerlerine sahiptir. Mikroalgler çeşitli morfolojik ve fizyolojik özellikler sergiler ve biyolojik özellikleri ürettikleri metabolitlere göre değişir. Mikroalglerin terapötik özellikleri çok sayıda bilimsel çalışmada araştırılmıştır. Literatürde mikroalglerin kanser önleyici, kolesterol düşürücü, antiinflamatuar, antioksidan ve antiviral aktivitelere sahip olduğu ve bağışıklık sistemini uyarma yeteneğine sahip olduğu bildirilmektedir. Çin'de ortaya çıkan ve dünya çapında yayılan SARS-CoV-2'ye karşı antiviral aktiviteye sahip bileşiklere olan ilgi şu anda zirvededir. Antiviral etkiye sahip biyoaktif bileşiklerin keşfi ve izolasyonu büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Arthrospira platensis, Prasinococcus sp., Nanofrustulum shiloi, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Scenedesmus sp. ve Pseudanabaena sp.' nin antiviral etkileri araştırılmıştır. Bu mikroalg/siyanobakteri türlerinden elde edilen özütlerin antiviral etkileri, eritrositleri aglütine eden Enfeksiyöz Bronşit Virüsü (IBV) D274 suşu kullanılarak embriyonlu tavuk yumurtası sisteminde in ovo deneyleriyle değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuçlar, diğer mikroalg türleriyle karşılaştırıldığında, en düşük hemaglutinasyon aktivitesini gösteren Pseudanabaena sp.'nin en güçlü ve potansiyel antiviral aktiviteye (5 mg/kg'da log2HA=4 ve 10 mg/kg'da log2HA=5) sahip olduğunu ve 10 mg/kg konsantrasyona kıyasla 5 mg/mL konsantrasyonda daha etkili olduğunu saptanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Investigation of antiviral activity of four microalgae and two cyanobacteria extracts on infectious bronchitis virus

Abstract

Many studies indicate that microalgae and cyanobacteria, widely used in cosmetics, medicine, various industrial areas, and as food sources for humans and animals, have potential applications in alternative treatments. These species have high nutritional value due to their high protein, carbohydrate, and fatty acid content. Microalgae display diverse morphological and physiological features, and their biological properties vary according to the metabolites they produce. The therapeutic properties of microalgae have been investigated in numerous scientific studies. The literature reports that microalgae possess anticancer, cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral activities, as well as the ability to stimulate the immune system. Interest in compounds with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, which emerged in China and spread worldwide, is currently at its peak. The discovery and isolation of bioactive compounds with antiviral effects is of great importance. In this study, the antiviral effects of Arthrospira platensis, Prasinococcus sp., Nanofrustulum shiloi, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Scenedesmus sp., and Pseudanabaena sp. were investigated. The antiviral effects of extracts from these microalgae/cyanobacteria species were assessed by in ovo experiments in the embryonated chicken egg system using the Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) D274 strain, which agglutinates erythrocytes. Among the microalgae/cyanobacteria species, Pseudanabaena sp., which exhibits the lowest hemagglutination activity (log2HA=4 at 5 mg/kg and log2HA=5 at 10 mg/kg), shows the strongest and most potent antiviral activity and is more effective at 5 mg/kg than at 10 mg/kg.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination

Project Number

FM-GAP-2022-23516

Ethical Statement

The studies were carried out with the approval of the Ege University ethics committee (Approval No: 2020- 051)

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Ecology (Other) , Fisheries Technologies

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Eylem Atak
0000-0002-7770-4837
Türkiye

Büşra Ak
0000-0003-0274-0363
Türkiye

Furkan Ozan Çöven
0000-0001-7696-3418
Türkiye

Ayşe Nalbantsoy
0000-0002-3852-1974
Türkiye

Zeliha Demirel
0000-0003-3675-7315
Türkiye

Meltem Conk Dalay ^*
0000-0002-1718-7292
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 9, 2026

Submission Date

November 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 43 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.1.10

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA36DZ78MC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Atak, E., Ak, B., Çöven, F. O., Nalbantsoy, A., Demirel, Z., & Conk Dalay, M. (2026). Investigation of antiviral activity of four microalgae and two cyanobacteria extracts on infectious bronchitis virus. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 43(1), 86-93. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.1.10