Habib Ayadi

University of Sfax | US · Faculty of Sciences of Sfax

Size, caloric value and chemical composition were measured separately in the progeny of two northern pike (Esox lucius) females at 3-day intervals during the endogenous feeding period from hatching to final yolk resorption. Tissue, yolk and entire larvae were analysed separately in three groups of larvae that hatched at different times (between 88...

We investigated the exchange potentials of phosphates at the water-sediment interface together with in situ benthic-chamber fractionated alkaline phosphatase activity and bacteria estimates during September and October 1998 at two stations: station 1, which received immediately the urban inputs from the Taounate city, and station 2, located in the...

L'étude de la composition et de la répartition spatiale des communautés phytoplanctoniques, protozooplanctoniques et métazooplanctoniques durant deux campagnes océanographiques estivales : Juillet 2009 et Juillet 2010, a révélé qu'il y a une nette différence (i) de la composition (ii) de la diversité et (iii) de la densité des différentes espèces p...

The distribution of microphytoplankton in relation to environmental factors in the coastal waters of the El Bibane lagoon was studied during the summers of 2009 and 2010. Microphytoplankton abundance and species richness found in the El Bibane lagoon during the summer of 2009 do not markedly differ from those reported from the same environment in t...

Dunaliella salina (microalgae), Fabrea salina (ciliate) and Artemia salina (crustacean) are the most abundant halophile Eukaryote organisms present in solar salterns at Sfax (Tunisia) when salinity is up to 150 PSU. We analysed the predator/prey relationship between the three organisms in laboratory conditions. In this study, aquatic food web relat...

The Gulf of Gabès, located in southern Tunisia, is a distinct and ecologically significant area in the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately, this dynamic marine ecosystem is experiencing cultural eutrophication, a process where water enrichment with nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen salts leads to excessive algae growth, disrupting the ecological...

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is distributed worldwide and used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Most applications are for the herb basil, recently the basil seeds have also been used commercially; however, little is known about the nutritional and functional properties of the seeds. The present study aimed to investigate a possi...

The spatial and seasonal variability of the microphytoplankton and ciliates communities in relation to the environmental factors were studied in the southern coastal area of Sfax. Results revealed a striking difference between seasons regarding pH, with strong acidification in autumn generated by industrial activity. Spatial distribution of pH in a...

The submerged surface sediment of the artificial lake at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan, was investigated to evaluate its contamination with trace metals. Chemical characterization was applied to leachates of sediment samples collected from 11 sampling stations at the study zone. The metal concentration (Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd...

Zooplankton play a crucial role in aquatic food chains and contain many species, which could be bioindicators of water quality and ecosystem health. The ecological impacts of eutrophication on zooplankton composition in freshwater lakes have recently gained wide interest. Geographic location and water-body size influence zooplankton diversity in fr...

This work investigated the protective effects of microalga Halamphora sp. extract (HExt), a nutraceutical and pharmacological natural product, on human lead-intoxicated liver and kidney cells in vitro and in vivo in Wistar rats. The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and the human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293 were used for the in v...

Solar salterns and salt marshes are unique ecosystems with special physicochemical features and characteristic biota. Currently, there are very few studies focused on the impacts of pollution on these economic and ecological systems. Unfortunately, diversified pollution (metals, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, etc.) has been detected in these com...

In this research paper, we investigated the effect of Euphorbia bivonae extract compounds on the lethality of brine shrimp Artemia salina and on the embryonic cell line (HEK293) proliferation. Our GC/MS analysis revealed that the E. bivonae ethanolic extract contained essentially sitsoterol, euphol and lupeol. The 24-h LC50 was determined using the...

In the present study, we investigated the effects of pollution and anthropization on the summer distribution of phyto-zooplankton communities in relation to environmental factors in the coastal zone of DjerbaIsland. On the basis of chemical factors, the Djerba coasts can be divided into two parts: the Western Area (WA), characterized by high values...

Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyceae), Phormidium versicolor (Cyanophyceae), and Cylindrotheca closterium (Bacillariophyceae) were isolated from three ponds in the solar saltern of Sfax (Tunisia). Growth, pigment contents, and photosynthetic and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured under controlled conditions of three light levels (300, 500, and...

The β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) as supramolecular have extremely attractive pharmaceutical applications. This study focused on the effects of macrocyclic systems complexation on stability, antioxidant activities, and bioavailability of the optimized synthesis coumarin incorporating hydrazone moiety. Optimal synthesis of (E)-N’-(1-(7-(diethylamino)-2-oxo...

This research focused on the nephroprotective activity of phycocyanin (C-PC) a bleu protein pigment extracted from new halophile cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor against cadmium induced renal damage in vitro and in vivo . In vitro study, 25 µg /ml C-PC was assessed for nephroprotective activity against 35 µg /ml of cadmium (Cd) induced toxicity...

Phytoplankton and Copepoda were investigated in the industrialized Gabès coast (Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia) to understand consequences of the Eutrophication Grade on the community composition. In the past 40 years, intensive agrochemical activities have developed in Gabès, discharging wastewater along the coast. In parallel, Gabès City has experien...

The saltern of Sfax is a thalasso haline paralic ecosystem were the salinity ranged from 45 to 450 PSU. The microalgae distribution of saltern showed a spatial ecological succession. The specific richness of microalgae decreased with the salinity, accounting 37, 17 and 5 species at three level of salinity from 40 to 80, 80 to 200 and 200 to 450 PSU...

This study was designed to investigate the physiological and biochemical response of the diatom microalgae Halamphora sp. (SB1 MK575516.1) to the toxicity of lead (Pb) as well as its ability as phytoremediation. Four different concentrations of Pb (50, 100, 150, and 200 mg L-1) were applied for 10 days. Fatty acid profile, mineral composition, seco...

This study focuses on the extraction optimization and characterization of polyphenols from the wild blue-green microalga Phormidium versicolor, as well as in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: extraction temperature at 52 °C, extraction time of 30 min, and solid-to-liquid...

This study aimed to investigate the microencapsulation of novel condensed tannins isolated from Periploca angustifolia roots, using β-cyclodextrin macrocyclic oligosaccharides, in order to enhance their antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic potentials. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed that tanni...

Participants in the coastal socio-economy of the Mediterranean Sea, such as industries, aquaculture, urban populations, conglomerates, and tourists, create intense anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems (such as the release of trace metals). This raises concerns about their impact on the surrounding environment and on marine organisms, includ...

Physical, chemical and biogeochemical variables were studied in the surface waters of three coastal areas characterized by different degrees of pollution (the Sfax Northern (NC) and Southern coasts (SC) and the Ghannouch area of Gabes (GA)) during October and November 2014 in order to identify pertinent tracers of anthropogenic inputs and depict th...

Spatial and temporal variations of reproduction variables of the two cyclopoid copepods Oithona nana Giesbrecht, 1893 and Oithona similis Claus, 1866 were evaluated monthly from September 2007 to August 2008 in four ponds at different salinities in the solar saltern of Sfax, Tunisia, under hypersaline conditions. Along the salinity gradient the abu...

Spatial variability of ciliates in relation to environmental variables and abundance of heterotrophic prokaryotes, picoeukaryotes, nanoeukaryotes, microphytoplankton and mesozooplankton were studied in the Gulf of Gabes- Boughrara lagoon system in the surface layer and at the water-sediment interface between 9 and April 15, 2017. Results revealed a...

Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyceae), Phormidium versicolor (Cyanophyceae) and Cylindrotheca closterium (Bacillariophyceae) were isolated from three ponds in the solar saltern of Sfax (Tunisia) having an average salinity of 350, 100 and 90 respectively. Growth, pigment contents, photosynthetic and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured under cont...

The concentrations of four trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were investigated for the first time in phytoplankton, zooplankton, and the seawater samples collected from the coast of Gabès, Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea. For over 40 years, this coast has witnessed significant anthropogenic impacts form fertilizer processing. Results obtained for Cd, Cu...

Concentrations of trace metals (Cd, Cu, and Zn) in seawater, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments near the coasts of the Gulf of Gabès were measured in spring 2014. The trace metal concentrations were confirmed to be high, especially in surface sediments and seawater. The levels of contamination and spatial distributions of the selecte...

With the demand for bioproducts that can provide benefits for biotechnology sectors like pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals, the exploration of microalgal products has turned toward extremophiles. This chapter is intended to provide an insight to most important molecules from halotolerant species, the cyanobacteria Phormidium versi...

Concentrations of the most polluting heavy metals (Cd, Cu, and Zn) in seawater, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments were investigated in the spring of 2014 in the coastal city Gabes, Tunisia. The concentrations of these metals were demonstrated to be high in the three phases. High metallic contamination causes serious deterioration of...

Spatial variability of ciliates in relation to chlorophyll a, nutrients, and environmental variables were studied in lagoon (Boughrara lagoon) and marine ecosystems (Ghannouch coast) in the surface layer and at the water-sediment interface during autumn. Results revealed a striking difference between the two ecosystems, with higher nutrient concent...

This study presents a faunal list of Copepoda Calanoida in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia). A total of 52 species belonging to15 families were reported in this study area, including 11 species belonging to family Acartiidae. Due to the geographical position of Gulf of Gabès in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the Tunisian Calanoida fauna in this ar...

This study presents a faunal list of Cyclopoida and Harpacticoida in the Gulf of Gabès waters. A total of 30 Cyclopoida and 11 Harpcticoida species belonging to 5 and 8 families, respectively, were reported in this study area. Corycaeidae is the most diversified family with 10 species including the invasive Atlantic species, Ditrichocorycaeus amazo...

Although the application of treated wastewater in irrigation is a common practice in Jordan, there are no studies on its use in fish culture. In this study, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of an artificial lake containing mixture of treated wastewater and rainwater were assessed to examine whether the nutrient loading is sufficien...

In the present study we investigated the effects of restoration (northern coast) and anthropization (southern coast) on the spatial and seasonal distribution of ciliates communities in relation to environmental factors in coastal Sfax area. The low pH value was attributed to anthropogenic waste inputs around the southern coast. The nutrients concen...

In Tunisia, most urban concentrations are located on the coasts, thus leading to intense anthropogenic development which certainly has negative effects on coastal areas such as the release of large quantities of trace metals in the seawater. As marine molluscs are successfully used in ecotoxicology as bioindicators of water pollution, in this study...

Spatial and temporal complexities of reproductive behaviour and sex ratios of two harpacticoid species Canuella perplexa Scott T. & Scott A., 1893 and Bryocamptus sp. were evaluated monthly from September 2007 to August 2008. Collections were made from four ponds at different salinities in the solar saltern of Sfax, Tunisia, considering other envir...

The aim of this study was to determine the combined effect of fermentation parameters and enhance the production of cellular biomass and antibacterial compounds from Paludifilum halophilum SMBg3 using the response surface methodology (RSM). Eight variables were screened to assess the effects of fermentation parameters on growth and metabolite produ...

A comparative approach of hydrological variables in order to clarify the abundance and diversity of the zooplankton community was investigated on a spring cruise in the Northern and Southern coastal waters of Sfax coupled with water-quality. Environmental and zooplankton data were taken across the tidal front TF, covering well-mixed MZ and frontal...

The seasonal distribution (summer-autumn) of microphytoplankton biomass coupled with environmental factors was studied at four ponds of increasing salinity (A5, A16, C4-1, M2) in the solar saltern of Sfax. Subsamples for microphytoplankton (20–200 μm) counting were analysed under an inverted microscope using the Utermöhl method after settling for 2...

Periploca angustifolia roots condensed tannins (PATF) have been reported to have a various biological activities. In addition, response surface methodology was used to optimize the hot extraction parameters for condensed tannins from this plant. Through the analysis, temperature, pH and water-solid ratio were found to be the most important paramete...

Objective In the present study, the effect of nickel and the ameliorating effect of methanolic extract of Dunaliella sp. (DE) on growth performance, meat quality, and the liver and kidneys of New Zealand male rabbits were studied. Methods Four groups of adult male rabbits were used in the in vivo experiment: (C) control, (Ni) Ni-treated, (DE) DE t...

Please cite this article as: S. Gammoudi, K. Athmouni, A. Nasri, et al., Optimization, isolation, characterization and hepatoprotective effect of a novel pigment-protein complex (phycocyanin) producing microalga: Phormidium versicolorNCC-466 using response surface methodology, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, https://doi. Abstrac...

The copepod assemblages and abiotic parameters were investigated at 11 stations in a large coastal lake (Lake Manzalah, Nile Delta) from 2009-2010 in order to verify any impacts of eutrophication and salinity on the copepod species composition. The environmental conditions and the copepod assemblages appeared to have changed in comparison with prev...

Solea aegyptiaca (Chabanaud, 1927) is one of the most common Soleid species in southern Tunisian waters. This study provides the first detailed information on the reproduction biology of S. aegyptiaca in these areas. Samples of S. aegyptiaca were collected by trawl from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) between April 2013 and March 2015. A total of 1638...

Periploca angustifolia has numerous biological properties and also used against various diseases. In our study, this plant has been used for biotechnological production of polysaccharides. The prevention action of polysaccharides isolated from P. angustifolia (PAPS) against Cd-caused oxidative stress in HEK293 cells and kidneys of rats was tested....

The nano-encapsulation of Periploca angustifolia phenolic extract using the macrocyclic carbohydrate polymers (β‑cyclodextrins) is a most approach compared with other encapsulation methods. In this work, the β‑Cyclodextrins-PAE complex stability has been evaluated by advanced analytical methods and techniques including HPLC, FTIR and XRD. The resul...

These studies were designed to evaluate the preliminary oral toxicity profile of the crude ethanolic aerial part extract of E. bivonae in the Male albino Wistar rats and its active chemical constituents. The 24-h LD50 was determined using probit analysis method. The single dose LD50was found to be 2568.64 mg/kg bw when administrated orally in mice....

The natural flavonoid (catechin) has been shown to possess a multitude of pharmacological activities. However, oral administrated catechin (CT) failed to fulfil its therapeutic potential due to poor absorption and low bioavailability. Thus, is a pressing need to develop a new approach from to increase its intestinal absorption and improved bioavail...

We studied the distribution of proto- and metazooplankton coupled with environmental factors in the coast area around Kneiss Islands (Central Mediterranean Sea). Zooplanktonic communities were sampled during summer 2009 and summer 2010 at three stations. Our results showed difference in suspended matter concentrations between summer 2009 (92.88 ± 7...

We studied the distribution of microphytoplankton, ciliates and mesozooplankton in relation to environmental factors in the coastal waters around the Kerkennah Islands. Diatom species were more abundant in winter, representing 74% of the total microphytoplankton abundance, whereas dinoflagellate abundance was higher in summer (58%). Naked ciliates...

For the first time, we have determined the effect of solvent, liquid-solid ratio and extraction time on polysaccharides yield was evaluated using a full factorial design (23). In this present investigation, a total of 7 molecules were determined in this species. In our analysis saccharose was the dominant monosaccharides. Arabinose, pyranose, fruct...

Metal pollution can produce many biological effects on aquatic environments. The marine diatom Amphora subtropica and the green alga Dunaliella sp. possess a high metal absorption capacity. Nickel (Ni) removal by living cells of A. subtropica and Dunaliella sp. was tested in cultures exposed to different Ni concentrations (100, 200, 300, and 500 mg...

Wastewater reclamation and reuse is an effective way to improve the utilization of water resources, which involves resolving the conflict of the water resources shortage, and mitigating the problem of water pollution, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. However, Wastewater usually contain diverse organic pollutants such as illicit drugs, synt...

The in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic and cytoprotective properties and in vivo hepatoprotective activities of crude polysaccharides extracted from cyanobacteria Phormidim versicolor NCC466 (CFv-PS) were investigated. The CFv-PS, identified as heteropolysaccharides with molecular weight of 63.79 kDa, exhibited relatively strong antioxidant activity,...

The Sfax southern coast (Gulf of Gabes, Mediterranean Sea) has been under increased anthropogenic pressure for many years. In the present study we investigated the effects of this anthropisation on the spatial distribution of copepod assemblages in relation to the physicochemical features of seawater at 20 stations sampled on 19 March 2013. Copepod...

The use of sewage sludge, generated during wastewater treatment, as an organic fertilizer has attracted more attention in view of soil amendment and nutrient supplying (Antolin et al. in Field Crops Res 94(2–3):224–237, 2005) and at the same time to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers (Passuello et al. in POP accumulation in the food chain: Inte...

With the growing release of endocrine dustrupting chemicals such as 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) into aquatic ecosystems in recent years (Belhaj et al. in Environ Sci Pollut Res 24(8):7392–7402, 2015), concerns have been raised about their potential toxicity to aquatic organism.

The Gulf of Gabes (southeastern - Tunisia), characterized by the abundance of halieutic resources, is nowadays facing strong anthropogenic pressures. This paper aimed to assess and compare the anthropogenic inputs of 30 stations belonging to three coastal areas of the Gulf of Gabes (Gulf of Gabes) i.e. the Southern and the Northern coastal areas of...

The coastal marine area of Sfax (Tunisia) is a well-known zone by its high productivity and fisheries. However, it is threatened by a variety of pollution sources contributing to a degradation of the water quality. In this paper, a study involving 20 stations and 23 physico-chemical and biogeochemical parameters is proposed. Due to the multicriteri...

Contamination of trace metals in fish is regarded as a major crisis globally, with a large share in many developing countries. On the south coast of Sfax (Tunisia), concentrations of seven trace metals, i.e., cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn), were evaluated in Diplodus annularis. The sampling...

Reproductive traits of Paracartia grani [percentage of spawning females, egg production rate (EPR), and hatching success (HS)] were investigated for the first time at high salinities (39–121 psu) to examine the impact of such a particular situation. The study was done in two hypersaline ponds [A1 (39–46 psu) and C31 (70–121 psu)] in Sfax Solar Salt...

this research deals with the effect of the ethinylestradiol on aquatic microorganisms.

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the aqueous extraction of crude polysaccharides from Tunisian cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor (NCC 466). The optimal extraction conditions with an extraction yield of 21.56 ± 0.92% were as follows: extraction temperature at 81.05 °C, ext...

2017): Phenolic compounds analysis, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects of Periploca angustifolia extract on cadmium-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cell line and rats, Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, ABSTRACT A total of five components (Catechin, Caffeic acid, Ferulic acid, Rosmarinic acid, and Amentoflavone) were identified in Pe...

The phytoplankton and ciliate biomasses coupled with environmental factors were investigated in 15 transects in north coasts of Sfax (Tunisia, Eastern Mediterranean Sea) in July 2007. The phytoplankton biomass was dominated by Bacillariophyceae (89.66%), followed by Dinophyceae (10.07%), Coccolitho-phorideae (0.96%), Cyanobacteriae (0.21%), Chlorop...

This study intends to reliably estimate the general status of the benthic and the epiphytic foraminifera community related to each studied seagrass ecosystem ( Posidonia oceanica , Cymodocea nodosa and Halophila stipulacea ) distributed in different shallow sites in the coastal archipelago of Kerkennah (Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia) during winter. We wer...

The extraction of Periploca polysaccharides (PAPS) was optimized using the response surface methodology. The influence of solvent, liquid-solid ratio and extraction time on polysaccharide yield was evaluated using a full factorial design (2(3)). Also, PAPS extract did not induce a cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells within the range of tested concentra...

The study of copepod assemblages indicated the presence of 22 species and 12 families in the southern coast of Sfax, 20 species and 13 families in the northern coast and 14 species and 8 families in the Ghannouch area, with a dominance of Oithonidae (79, 51 and 43% in the southern, northern and Ghannouch coasts, respectively). The relative abundanc...

The wide distribution of crustaceans from freshwater through brackish into marine waters and from salt marshes to terrestrial zones shows the exceptional capacities of this animal group to cope with salinity changes. Osmoregulation is the main physiological mechanism that maintains the hydromineral homeostasis of these animals. The difference of os...

The spatial and seasonal variations of the diatoms communities were examined during four marine cruises conducted between years 2011 and 2012 on 12 stations at the north (restored) and south (not yet restored) coasts. Results revealed a striking difference between the two coasts regarding pH, with strong acidification of seawater in the south, like...

The increased metal loading from anthropogenic sources has affected aquatic ecosystems and has cascaded through food webs worldwide. Therefore, the evaluation of ecological impacts of anthropogenic metal has become increasingly important. In this paper, we monitored the concentration of six trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the three cop...

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) were employed to optimize the aqueous extraction of crude polysaccharides from Tunisian cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor (NCC 466). The optimal extraction conditions with an extraction yield of 21.56 ± 0.92% as follow: temperature, 81.5 °C; time, 3.99 h and ratio...

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) were employed to optimize the aqueous extraction of crude polysaccharides from Tunisian cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor (NCC 466). The optimal extraction conditions with an extraction yield of 21.56 ± 0.92% as follow: temperature, 81.5 °C; time, 3.99 h and ratio...

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) were employed to optimize the aqueous extraction of crude polysaccharides from Tunisian cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor (NCC 466). The optimal extraction conditions with an extraction yield of 21.56 ± 0.92% as follow: temperature, 81.5 °C; time, 3.99 h and ratio...

The occurrence and the removal efficiency of natural estrogens, estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), as well as a synthetic estrogen, 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), were investigated in two sewage treatment plants (STPs) employing different activated sludge processes in Tunisia, by monitoring their concentrations in dissolved wastewater....

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the aqueous extraction of crude polysaccharides from Tunisian cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor (NCC 466). The optimal extraction conditions with an extraction yield of 21.56 ± 0.92% were as follows: extraction temperature at 81.05 °C, ext...

The concentrations of selected dissolved trace elements (Ni 446-919 μg L⁻¹, Pb 383-1015, Fe 195739, Cu 217-318, Cr 156-336, Zn 9-236, Mn 0-187, Co 0-310, and Cd 26-77) were assessed in the surface water of 30 stations belonging to three coastal areas along the Gulf of Gabes, i.e., the southern (stations 1-10) and northern (stations 11-20) coastal a...

The spatial and temporal variability of metazooplankton communities in relation to environmental and trophic factors were studied in the Gulf of Gabes during three periods of increasing thermal stratification in June, July and September. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed the time and space succession of three zooplankton communit...

Abstract The environmental impacts of various pollutants on the entire levels of organisms are under investigation. Among these pollutants, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) present a serious hazard, even though the environmental significance of these compounds remains basically unknown. To drop some light on this field, we assessed the effects...