RESPONSE OF FRESH-WATER PHYTOPLANKTONIC ALGAE CHLORELLA-KESSLERI AND SYNECHOCYSTIS PCC-6803 TO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF THE WILD EGYPTIAN PLANT CALENDULA-MICRANTHA-OFFICINALIS

Calendula micrantha water extract was added to cultures of the green a lga Chlorella kessleri and cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. Trea tments enhanced growth of the cultures, increased chlorophyll content, and C-14-labeled protein synthesis. However, a general induced protei n synthesis pattern by 0.5% extract was observed reaching maximum leve l after 24 and 36 h in Chlorella and Synechocystis, respectively. Oxyg en evolution in Chlorella was markedly inhibited after 12 h and slight ly inhibited at longer exposure times and accompanied by a two- to fou rfold increase in respiration at all experimental periods. Extracts in duced oxygen evolution after 48 h in Synechocystis reaching maximum (5 2%) at 0.5%. The cyanobacterium exhibited a general reduced respiratio n pattern after 24 h which slightly increased afterwards. Calendula ex tract at 0.7% after 12 h had a preferential effect on both unicultures , as in Chlorella it markedly reduced protein synthesis and the oxygen evolution was minimum, whereas in Synechocystis it slightly reduced t he level of protein synthesis with increasing oxygen evolution. The pr eferential effect was exhibited by all extract concentrations after 48 h, where protein synthesis was moderately induced in Chlorella and ma rkedly inhibited in Synechocystis.