Co-deprivation of some photosynthetic electron transport mineral pairs is sought for enhancing antioxidant accumulation in a local isolate of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, to improve their nutritional value and economic feasibility. The omitted element pairs were iron and sulfur ( FeS), manganese and iron ( MnFe) and nitrogen and sulfur ( NS); chosen on the basis of their strong mediation in redox activities (Fe, Mn or S) or as sinks (N or S) of photosynthetic electrons. Antioxidant contents were estimated in 15 days old cells as growth of Arthrospira was not deteriorated by depriving the studied mineral pairs on the one hand and older cells tend to accumulate secondary compounds than younger ones whose bioenergetics are diverted into vegetative growth on the other hand. Iron sulfur, followed by iron manganese deprivation, induced the highest rates of photosynthtic oxygen evolution and respiratory oxygen uptake. Nitrogen sulfur starved cells, however, seem just survived as the increment of their dry mass relative to the inoculum was insignificant; they exhibited the lowest rates of photosynthesis with significantly enhanced respiration. A positive correlation between dry mass allocation and antioxidant accumulation can be deduced in the following order: FeS N FeMn N NS. Vitamins A and tocopherols exhibited significant rise per unit dry mass (about fourfold that of the control) at FeS while total antioxidants, reducing power and phenolics were more than doubled. FeMn pair deprivation sustained growth but did not enhance the accumulation of the targeted antioxidants. Under NS deprivation, neither Vitamin A nor tocopherols was enhanced although total antioxidants, reducing power and total phenolics were significantly higher than in control cultures. Soluble carbohydrates and free amino acids did not exhibit significant alterations in response to the imposed deprivations, indicating that enhancing the antioxidant accumulation did not take place at the expense of growth or primary metabolism in Arthrospira.

Background: impairment of retinoic acid (RA) results in different malformations during embryonic development. Citral can interfere with the embryogenesis due to its direct inhibitory effect on RA. Purpose: is to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of citral on the skeletal elements of the developing chick embryo. Methods: Fertilized eggs of the chick Gallus domesticus were divided into control and experimental groups which received either three different concentrations of citral (50 μM, 100 μM and 200 μM). Results: treatment with citral caused several cases of scoliosis, absence of ossification in the skeletal system, deformed parrot beak, short and wry necks. Alizarin transparencies detected curvatures of the vertebral column at the cervical region. Conclusion: It is suggested that citral treatment in the present work caused inhibition of RA which might disrupt the expression of some genes, such as BMPs, Fgf8, Msx1 and Msx2 resulting in induction of morphological malformations. Citral induced morphological malformation in a concentration dependent manner. Cosmetics, food stuffs, detergents, flavoring agents and scenting agents that contain retinoic acid or citral are not recommended for ladies during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Background: impairment of retinoic acid (RA) results in different malformations during embryonic development. Citral can interfere with the embryogenesis due to its direct inhibitory effect on RA. Purpose: is to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of citral on the skeletal elements of the developing chick embryo. Methods: Fertilized eggs of the chick Gallus domesticus were divided into control and experimental groups which received either three different concentrations of citral (50 μM, 100 μM and 200 μM). Results: treatment with citral caused several cases of scoliosis, absence of ossification in the skeletal system, deformed parrot beak, short and wry necks. Alizarin transparencies detected curvatures of the vertebral column at the cervical region. Conclusion: It is suggested that citral treatment in the present work caused inhibition of RA which might disrupt the expression of some genes, such as BMPs, Fgf8, Msx1 and Msx2 resulting in induction of morphological malformations. Citral induced morphological malformation in a concentration dependent manner. Cosmetics, food stuffs, detergents, flavoring agents and scenting agents that contain retinoic acid or citral are not recommended for ladies during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Background: impairment of retinoic acid (RA) results in different malformations during embryonic development. Citral can interfere with the embryogenesis due to its direct inhibitory effect on RA. Purpose: is to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of citral on the skeletal elements of the developing chick embryo. Methods: Fertilized eggs of the chick Gallus domesticus were divided into control and experimental groups which received either three different concentrations of citral (50 μM, 100 μM and 200 μM). Results: treatment with citral caused several cases of scoliosis, absence of ossification in the skeletal system, deformed parrot beak, short and wry necks. Alizarin transparencies detected curvatures of the vertebral column at the cervical region. Conclusion: It is suggested that citral treatment in the present work caused inhibition of RA which might disrupt the expression of some genes, such as BMPs, Fgf8, Msx1 and Msx2 resulting in induction of morphological malformations. Citral induced morphological malformation in a concentration dependent manner. Cosmetics, food stuffs, detergents, flavoring agents and scenting agents that contain retinoic acid or citral are not recommended for ladies during the first trimester of pregnancy.

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