Experiments were run to determine the effect of filtrate from incubated Aphanizomenonflos-aquae on the thoracic appendage beat rate and frequency of postabdominal rejections by Daphnia carinata. Comparisons were made between the response to Aphanizomenon filtrate and to purified saxitoxin (STX). The short-term response pattern to the filtrate included an immediate 30-50% depression of thoracic ...

Lonicerae japonicae flos, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used for several thousand years in China. Chinese Pharmacopeia once included Lonicerae japonicae flos of Caprifoliaceae family and plants of the same species named Lonicerae flos in general in the same group. Chinese Pharmacopeia (2005 Edition) lists Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos under different c...

The hepatotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN) produced by certain cyanobacteria, including Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (hereafter Aphanizomenon) [1], seriously affects lake water quality [2], but its biological role is not known. Strong correlation between Aphanizomenon abundance in Lake Kinneret, Israel, and alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity suggests that inorganic phosphate (Pi) limitation induc...

The presence of blue-green algae (BGA) toxins in surface waters used for drinking water sources and recreation is receiving increasing attention around the world as a public health concern. However, potential risks from exposure to these toxins in contaminated health food products that contain BGA have been largely ignored. BGA products are commonly consumed in the United States, Canada, and Eu...

Sea urchins rely on chemical senses to localize suitable food resources, therefore representing model species for chemosensory studies. In the present study, we investigated sensitivity of Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus blue-green alga Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, namely “Klamath”, and a few amino acids chosen from biochemical composition same algae. To this end, used “urchinogram”...

One of the most commonly reported benefits of eating the blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is an increase in concentration and attention and an elevation of mood. In clinical cases, AFA has been reported to alleviate depression and attention deficit disorder. Recently, it was discovered that AFA contains a significant concentration of phenylethylamine (PEA), an endogenous neuromodulatin...