This paper presents an investigation on the cytotoxic activity in human tumor cell from dichloromethane, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, water extracts, and hexane and chloroform fractions from green, brown and red algae collected at Riacho Doce Beach, north coast of Alagoas, Brazil, against the cancer cells K562 (chronic myelocytic leukemia), HEp-2 (laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma) and NCI-H292 (human lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma) through the MTT colorimetric method. The dichloromethane extract and chloroform fraction of Hypnea musciformis showed the best cytotoxic activity against K562 (3.8±0.2 µg.mL-1 and 6.4±0.4 µg.mL-1, respectively). Dichloromethane extracts of Dictyota dichotoma (16.3±0.3 µg.mL-1) and the chloroform fraction of H. musciformis (6.0±0.03 µg.mL-1) and chloroform fraction of P. gymnospora (8.2±0.4) were more active against HEp-2 as well as ethanol extracts of P. gymnospora (15.9±2.8 µg.mL-1) and chloroform fraction of H. musciformis (15.0±1.3 µg.mL-1) against the cell NCI-H292. The constituents with higher anticancer action are present in the extracts of dichloromethane and chloroform and in the chloroform fraction of H. musciformis, Digenea simplex, P. gymnospora, and D.dichotoma. In the case of the seaweed S. vulgare, the anticancer constituents are present in the aqueous extract.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a variação espaço-temporal do microfitoplâncton e variáveis ambientais no Lago Azul, Área de Proteção Permanente do município de Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas. As coletas ocorreram no período de abril a setembro de 2008. As amostras do fitoplâncton foram obtidas através de arrastos horizontais superficiais, com rede de abertura de malha de 45 µm e, concomitantemente, coletadas amostras de água utilizando garrafa de Van Dorn, para a determinação dos parâmetros físico-químicos. Foram identificados 27 táxons predominando as Chlorophyta (63%), destacando-se como espécies "dominantes" Desmidium swartzii var. quadrangulatum (Ralfs) A. Roy (62,3%) e D. cylindricum Greville (55,1%), seguidos das Bacillariophyta (26%) e Cyanobacteria (11%). O pH levemente ácido e a baixa disponibilidade de nutrientes ofereceram condições favoráveis para o desenvolvimento das Desmidiaceae: Closterium sp., Cosmarium goniodes West & West, C. margaritiferum Meneghini ex Ralfs, C. vogeciacum Gutwinski, Desmidium cylindricum Greville, D. pseudotreplonema West & West, D. swartzii var. quadrangulatum (Ralfs) A. Roy, Euastrum brasiliense Borge var. minus G.S.West, Gymnozyga moniliformis Ehrenberg, Micrasterias denticulata Brébisson ex Ralfs, M. (Kützing) Ralfs, M. radians Turner e Tetmemorus laevis (Kuetzing) Ralfs.

The objective of this work is to determine the spatial and temporal variation of microphytoplankton and environmental variables in Lake Azul, a permanent protected area in the town of Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas State, Brazil. Samples were collected from April to September 2008. Phytoplankton samples were obtained by surface-horizontal trawling with a 45µm mesh net. Water samples were taken with a Van Dorn bottle, during the phytoplankton collection, in order to determine physical-chemical parameters. A total of 27 taxa were identified, Chlorophyta were the most abundant taxa (63% of the sample) followed by Bacillariophyta (26%) and Cyanobacteria (11%). The dominant species were Desmidium swartzii var. quadrangulatum (Ralfs) A. Roy (62.3%) and D. cylindricum Greville (55.1%). The slightly acid pH associated with low nutrient availability favors the development of Desmidiaceae: Closterium sp., Cosmarium goniodes West & West, C. margaritiferum Meneghini ex Ralfs, C. vogeciacum Gutwinski, Desmidium cylindricum Greville, D. pseudotreplonema West & West, D. swartzii var. quadrangulatum (Ralfs) A. Roy, Euastrum brasiliense Borge var. minus G.S.West, Gymnozyga moniliformis Ehrenberg, Micrasterias denticulata Brébisson ex Ralfs, M. (Kützing) Ralfs, M. radians Turner and Tetmemorus laevis (Kuetzing) Ralfs.