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Treatment and management of various diseases are cured by use of herbal remedies, which are worked in the numerous medicinal systems. In which, Tribulus terrestris L. and Pedalium murex L. are the most important medicinal herbs, which are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicinal treatment. T. terrestris and P. murex have been categorized as numerous types of chemical compounds such as steroidal saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, inorganic nitrate, carbohydrates, resins, etc. in which, steroidal saponins are the main bioactive components of the both herbs. These chemical compounds were isolated from the both herbs using HPLC, UPLC, GC–MS, and NMR, etc. chromatographic techniques. T. terrestris and P. murex have been characterized potential activities such as a diuretic, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, spermatorrhoea, strangury, ulcer, sexual grade, ardor urine, demulcent, dysuria, gonorrhea, etc. Few research works have been done on Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), Endophytes, Plant Tissue Culture (PTC), Nanotechnology, etc. Till now, PGPR research work has not been done in P. murex. Molecular work on P. murex is yet to be explored. Besides Ayurvedic references, researchers emphasize on both herbs for their clinical, pharmacological evaluation, aspects of biotechnologically and nanotechnologically. This review paper will be helpful for further research on T. terrestris and P. murex with an understanding of pharmacological and phytochemical aspects besides the biotechnological, and nanotechnological approaches.

Murex-purple dye production and the production of salsamenta (salted fish) and garum (fish sauce) are two of the most common coastal industries of the Roman period. The western Mediterranean has a long history of archaeological investigation into fish-processing and dyeing facilities, with the most well-known sites concentrated around the Strait of Gibraltar. The same cannot be said for sites in the eastern Mediterranean, however, and the dearth of archaeological data on fish-processing in this region is surprising considering the importance of murex-dye, salsamenta, and garum to the Romans. In this thesis, I use an argument by analogy to test the hypothesis that a Roman coastal industrial complex at Tel Dor (Israel), currently known as the “Purple Dye Factory,” is actually a fish-processing facility. I form a positive analogy by comparing the features of the Dor complex with features at Roman fish-processing facilities (cetariae) in Baelo Claudia (Spain) and Cotta (Morocco). Next, I develop two chaîne opératoire models – for purple dye production and fish-processing – to determine what features are expected for each technological process. Finally, I demonstrate that the archaeological features at Dor match the archaeological correlates of the fish-processing chaîne opératoire and are analogous to the features found at Roman cetariae.

Murex Vindobonensis Hoernes — Mayer 1864: 71. Discussion. As with the species above, this determination was based on two small fragments from Feteirinhas (= Ponta das Salinas) and said to belong to the Murex erinaceus group. Today, this species is placed in the genus Ocenebra Gray, 1847. Two sub-species are recognized O. vindobonensis vindobonensis (Ĥrnes, 1853), present in the Lower and Middle Miocene Paratethys and eastern Proto-Mediterranean, and O. vindobonensis ligeriana (Tournouër, 1875) from the Atlantic middle Miocene of the Loire Basin, France. This species complex is typically Miocene (Landau et al., 2006c), and we prefer to exclude this record until further verified., Published as part of Sacchetti, Claudia, Landau, Bernard & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2023, The Lower Pliocene marine gastropods of Santa Maria Island, Azores: Taxonomy and palaeobiogeographic implications, pp. 1-150 in Zootaxa 5295 (1) on page 100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5295.1.1, {"references":["Mayer, K. (1864). Die Tertiar-fauna der Azoren und Madeiren. Zurich, published by the author. Z ¸ rich: vi + 107 pp. + 7 pls.","Landau B. M., Petit R. & Marquet R. (2006 c) The early Pliocene Gastropoda (Mollusca) of Estepona, Southern Spain. Part 12. Cancellarioidea. Palaeontos, 9, 61 - 101."]}

Pedalium murex L. is a medicinal herb that has been used for the treatment of diseases related to kidney in the traditional system of medicine. The current study aims to study the effect of ethyl acetate extract of P. murex (EAEP) and its fractionated compound pedalitin against urease production and UreC gene expression in Proteus mirabilis. The selected reference strain Proteus mirabilis (MTCC 425) and the isolates culture of Proteus mirabilis were subjected to study the antibacterial efficacy of P. murex. Expression analysis of P. mirabilis urease gene was successfully done by QPCR. The ethyl acetate extract effectively inhibit the reference Proteus mirabilis and bacterial isolates of Proteus mirabilis in the clinical samples studied. EAEP has showed more potent activity (56.7%) against urease enzyme and pedalitin also exhibited potent activity (30.1%). Using qPCR, the expression of UreC gene of P. mirabilis was controlled by EAEP and also its bioactive compound pedalitin. The present study clearly demonstrated the potency of P. murex in controlling the growth of pathogenic P. mirabilis and to control the expression of urease enzyme production as well as to restrict the urease gene expression in P. mirabilis. Keywords: Pedalium murex, Pedalitin, Proteus mirabilis, UreC, qPCR

Murex savignyus Delle Chiaje, 1828 Murex savignyus Delle Chiaje, 1828: 222. Triforis savignyanus (Delle Chiaje, 1828) — Tryon 1887: 187. Type locality. Italy, Regno di Napoli. Type material. Type material not located so far. Remarks. Tryon (1887) considered this species a junior synonym of Trochus perversus Linnaeus, 1758. Bouchet (1985) considered it a nomen dubium because Delle Chiaje based it on a specimen illustrated by Savigny (1817: plate 4, fig. 4) which is in poor condition and most probably coming from the Red Sea., Published as part of Bakker, Piet A. J. & Albano, Paolo G., 2022, Nomenclator, geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the family Triphoridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 1-216 in Zootaxa 5088 (1) on pages 157-158, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5836536, {"references":["Delle Chiaje, S. (1828) Memorie sulla storia e notomia degli animali senza vertebre del regno di Napoli. Volume 3. Societa Tipografica, Napoli, 232 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10021","Tryon, G. W. (1887) Manual of Conchology; Structural and Systematics, with illustrations of the species. Vol. IX. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 488 pp.","Linnaeus, C. (1758) Caroli a Linne. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, stnonimis, locis. Tom. I. Ed. 10. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 823 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 542","Bouchet, P. (1985) Les Triphoridae de Mediterranee et du proche Atlantique (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Lavori S. I. M, 21, 5 - 58.","Savigny, J. C. (1817) Description de l'Egypte ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont ete faites en Egypte pendant l'expedition de l'armee francaise, publie par ordre du Gouvernement. Histoire Naturelle, Planches, Tome Deuxieme. Imprimerie Royale, Coquilles, Paris, 14 pls."]}

Murex radula Olivi, 1792 Murex radula Olivi, 1792: 152. Triforis radula (Olivi, 1792) — Tryon 1887: 187. Type locality. Italy, Gulf and Lagoon of Venice. Type material. Type material not located so far. Distribution. Italy (Olivi 1792). Remarks. Bouchet & Guillemot (1978) noted that this species is based on a figure by Gualtieri (1742) depicting a dextral cerithiid which is not possible to identify further. It is thus a nomen dubium., Published as part of Bakker, Piet A. J. & Albano, Paolo G., 2022, Nomenclator, geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the family Triphoridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), pp. 1-216 in Zootaxa 5088 (1) on page 149, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5088.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5836536, {"references":["Olivi, G. (1792) Zoologia Adriatica. G. Remondini, Bassano, 334 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 60887","Tryon, G. W. (1887) Manual of Conchology; Structural and Systematics, with illustrations of the species. Vol. IX. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 488 pp.","Bouchet, P. & Guillemot, H. (1978) The Triphora perversa - complex in western Europe. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 44, 344 - 356."]}

Background Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is frequently inherited disease. The medicinal plant Pedalium murex (P. murex) Linn, that has anti-inflammatory, antiurolithiatic, and diuretic properties, has a greater tendency to cure urinary defects. P. Murex compounds have been studied in order to find an effective treatment against the Vasopressin 2 receptor (V2R), which is a target for ADPKD. The compound structures were designed using ChemSketch software, which was then optimised for the exploration of pharmacokinetic properties. Finally, AutoDock VINA programme was used to execute molecular docking, and the findings were analysed and visualised in Discovery studio visualizer. Results Virtual screening using PyRx software finds seven compounds from P. murex with binding affinities ranging from − 8.6 to − 5.8 kcal/mol, which will be used for further pharmacological characteristics study. Luteolin has a higher druglikeness and an overall drug score of 0.84, indicating as a most suitable compound. Furthermore, luteolin docking and bonding study reveals improved receptor (V2R) H-bonding with Phe105(2.26 and 2.96), Gln119(2.78), and any Lys116(2.16). Conclusions Based on affinity score, screening of various compounds from P. murex against the V2R target for the ADPKD showed that the phytocompound luteolin has superior pharmacological characteristics and bonding. Luteolin from P. murex can be used as a possible therapeutic candidate after rigorous in silico investigation. Graphic abstract

Microplastics are small particles of plastic that are five millimeters or less in size. These microscopic particles come from a variety of sources including beauty products, fishing gear, clothing, and from the degradation of plastic products. Concentrations of microplastics are increasing within the oceans, including waters surrounding Florida, USA. Miles of sandy beaches make the sunshine state a prime tourist destination leading to an increased amount of pollution along Florida coasts. Microplastics can cause damage to intertidal organisms, as well as causing issues up the food chain with biomagnification and seafood consumers, such as humans. Florida is also subject to hurricanes which often distribute sediments, filling the water column with previously settled microplastics. These factors make Florida a special case to review considering the state is affected heavily by hurricanes and tourism, which can contribute to microplastic concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico. The focus of this study was to quantify microplastics contamination in two marine snail species from intertidal habitats in Florida. The Red-mouth rock shell (Stramonita haemastoma) and Crown conch (Melongena corona) are gastropod molluscs that can be found commonly in intertidal habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. Both Red-mouth rock shells and Crown conchs are predatory snails with Red-mouth rock shells feeding on bivalves, gastropods and barnacles, while Crown conchs are predatory snails, consuming filter feeding bivalves and other snails. Marine snails serve as sustenance for other organisms in the ecosystem, such as whelks, murex, and stone crabs. If intertidal snail populations are in jeopardy as a result of microplastic contamination, ecosystem health is also at risk. Seawater samples and marine snails were collected from intertidal beach habitats in Northwest Panhandle and Central Florida, and gastropod tissue was digested for microplastic quantification. After tissue digestion was complete, seawater and tissue samples were filtered and microplastics were quantified and measured using microscopy. Marine intertidal snails may be good organisms for biomonitoring of microplastics in intertidal sandy habitats.

In Anbetracht der enormen Verbesserung der HCV-Therapie durch die Entwicklung hochwirksamer und direkt wirkender Virostatika (DAA) dient diese Studie der Analyse von HCV-Koinfektionen unter den gemeldeten HIV-Neudiagnosen in Deutschland. Zunächst wurde die Eignung zweier kommerzieller HCV-ELISAs, dem Murex Ag/Ab (Abbott) und dem Monolisa Ag/Ab Ultra (Bio-Rad), zum Nachweis von HCV in getrockneten Serumspots (DSS) verglichen. Der Murex-ELISA zeigte sich sensitiver bei Antigen-positiven Plasma- HCV-Serokonversionsproben. Dagegen zeigte der Monolisa eine höhere Sensitivität bei HCV-Antikörper-positiven DSS-Eluaten. Aus diesem Grund wurden Proben von neu diagnostizierten HIV-Infektionen unter Verwendung des Monolisa untersucht. Des Weiteren wurde ein Aviditätstest zur Unterscheidung von frischen und bereits länger bestehenden Infektionen etabliert. Für alle Genotypen wurde ein optimaler Aviditätsindex (AI) Cut-off von 40% ermittelt, woraus ein Zeitraum von 364 Tagen für die Klassifizierung als frische HCVInfektion folgte. Um aktive und ausgeheilte Infektionen zu unterscheiden, wurden positive Proben mittels RT-qPCR- und Western-Blot analysiert. Die Genotypisierung und Identifizierung resistenzassoziierter Substitutionen (RAS) erfolgte mittels Sequenzanalyse. Von den insgesamt 6.097 untersuchten Proben der Jahre 2015-2017 waren 396 HCV-ELISAreaktiv (6,5%). Von diesen wurden 256 (64,6%) als aktive und 140 (35,4%) als ausgeheilte Infektionen identifiziert. Ein hoher Anteil der HCV-Koinfektionen wurde bei intra-venösen Drogenkonsumenten (PWID, 77,8%, n=168/216), in der Altersgruppe der 30-39 Jährigen (9%, n=179/1.978) und bei Menschen osteuropäischer Herkunft (38,3%, n=124/324) beobachtet. Im Vergleich zum Jahr 2016 hat sich der Anteil der ausgeheilten Infektionen im Jahr 2017 bei der Gesamtzahl der Patienten (p, In light of the major shift in HCV therapy resulting from the availability of highly potent direct acting antivirals (DAA), this study performed a surveillance of HCV coinfections among reported HIV new diagnoses in Germany. First the suitability of two commercial HCV ELISAs, Murex Ag/Ab (Abbott) and Monolisa Ag/Ab Ultra (Bio-Rad) for the detection of HCV in dried serum spots (DSS) was compared. The Murex ELISA was more sensitive in antigen positive plasma HCV seroconversion samples. In contrast, the Monolisa showed a higher sensitivity in HCV antibody positive DSS eluates. For this reason, samples from newly diagnosed HIV infections were examined using the Monolisa. Furthermore, an avidity test was established to distinguish between new and already longer existing infections. An optimal avidity index (AI) cut-off of 40% was determined for all genotypes, resulting in a period of 364 days for classification as new HCV infection. To distinguish active and resolved infections, positive samples were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Genotyping and identification of resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) was performed by sequence analysis. Of the total of 6,097 samples examined for the years 2015-2017, 396 were HCV ELISA reactive (6.5%). Of these, 256 (64.6%) were identified as active and 140 (35.4%) as resolved infections. A high proportion of HCV coinfections were observed in intravenous drug users (PWID, 77.8%, n=168/216), in the age group 30-39 years (9%, n=179/1,978) and in people of Eastern European origin (38.3%, n=124/324). Compared to 2016, the proportion of resolved infections in 2017 has increased in the total number of patients (p

In the context of a broad study aimed at examining dyeing technologies in the Timna textiles collection, three samples of prestigious fibers dyed with murex sea snail were identified. Our identification is based on the presence of 6-monobromoindigotin and 6,6-dibromoindigotin components (detected using HPLC analysis), which is considered unequivocal evidence for the use of murex-derived purple dyestuff. Furthermore, by comparing the analytical results with those obtained in a series of controlled dyeing experiments we were able to shed more light on the specific species used in the dyeing process and glean insights into the ancient dyeing technology. The samples originated from excavations at the extensive Iron Age copper smelting site of “Slaves’ Hill” (Site 34), which is tightly dated by radiocarbon to the late 11th–early 10th centuries BCE. While evidence for the important role of purple dyes in the ancient Mediterranean goes back to the Middle Bronze Age (early 2nd millennium BCE), finds of dyed textiles are extremely rare, and those from Timna are the oldest currently known in the Southern Levant. In conjunction with other observations of the very high quality of the Timna textiles, this provides an exceptional opportunity to address questions related to social stratification and organization of the nomadic society operating the mines (early Edom), the “fashion” of elite in the region during the early Iron Age, trade connections, technological capabilities, and more.

SummaryFour new species,Cynorkis kiehnii, C. marianneae, C. marmorataandC. murex,are described for the first time.Cynorkis frappieriandC. raymondianaare compared, with the latter reduced to a synonym of the former. Cynorkis gaesiformis, C. galeata, C. nutansandC. stenoglossaare compared and considered one variable species, with the nameC. nutanshaving priority. Additional information is provided aboutC. mammuthusfollowing the discovery of living material in N Madagascar.

Three new species of the neogastropod family Raphitomidae Bellardi, 1875, are described from the Croatian waters of the Adriatic Sea: Raphitoma petanii Prkic, Giannuzzi-Savelli & Pusateri n. sp., R. pusaterii Prkic & Giannuzzi-Savelli n. sp. and R. stanici Prkic, Giannuzzi-Savelli & Pusateri n. sp. The new species are diagnosed by teleoconch characters and by genetic data (COI sequences) in an integrative taxonomy framework. They belong to a group of species with microgranules on the external surface of all teleoconch whorls and all three have a multispiral protoconch indicating a planktotrophic larval phase. The first two species are so far known only from material found in Croatia. R. petanii Prkic, Giannuzzi-Savelli & Pusateri n. sp. and R. stanici Prkic, Giannuzzi-Savelli & Pusateri n. sp. are predominantly shallow-water species, whereas R. pusaterii Prkic & Giannuzzi-Savelli n. sp. has been so far collected only from deeper bottoms with presence of the red coral, Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758). Syntypes of Murex echinatusBrocchi, 1814 are figured and commented.

Occurrence of traditional (PBDEs) and novel (HBB, PBEB, DBDPE) brominated flame retardants, as well as the natural compounds of MeO-PBDEs, were studied in a shellfish species (Hexaplex trunculus) sampled from Bizerte Lagoon. PBDE and MeO-PBDE mean concentrations in murex soft tissues were 187 and 264 ng g−1 lw respectively. The alternative flame retardants were not identified. The sum of PBDE and MeO-PBDE levels recorded in murex from the investigated aquatic ecosystem were comparable or a relatively lower than those reported for other organisms from other regions across the world. The amount of PBDE and MeO-PBDE concentrations from the Bizerte Lagoon recorded in murex were comparable or a relatively lower than those recorded from other areas across the world for other species. There is not a danger to the population health with regard to PBDE intakes associated with the consumption of murex in Bizerte city. We believe that this is the first study of the analysis of these pollutants in marine gastropod mollusks from Tunisian aquatic areas. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature., The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CEMAGUA-CGL2007-64551/HID) and the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research supported this study. The authors are thankful to R. Chaler, D. Fangul, and M. Comesaña for their help at the mass spectrometry work.

Anisakid nematodes are among the most common helminth parasites of the marine realm, particularly important for their implications with human infections and/or allergies. Members of the Anisakidae use aquatic mammals, birds and fish as definitive hosts, and crustaceans, fish and molluscs as intermediate/paratenic hosts. Sulcascaris sulcata, the only species in the monotypic genus Sulcascaris, represents the exception being a parasite of sea turtles as adult. The recent findings of larvae of S. sulcata in scallops (Pecten jacobeus and Aequipecten opercularis) and Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis intended for human consumption from the Mediterranean Sea caused concern regarding the sanitary control of edible molluscs and consumer safety. Herein, we investigated the larval anisakids collected from the purple dye murex, Bolinus brandaris, harvested for human consumption from the Central Mediterranean Sea (Tyrrhenian Sea). Morphological study and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 gene locus revealed the occurrence of fourth stage larvae of S. sulcata in 16% of the purple dye murex examined. The present study adds the purple dye murex to the list of the known intermediate hosts of this parasite in the Mediterranean Sea and the northern coast of Campania region as site where individuals of loggerhead turtle and purple dye murex may become infected. This is the first study reporting an anisakid nematode in edible gastropods. Epidemiological features of infection in the purple dye murex and implications for gastropod safety and risk for consumers are discussed.

Twelve species from the Bay of Bengal, the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean, and southwestern Australia are reclassified in Marmorofusus. These include: Murex undulatus Gmelin, 1791, a senior synonym of Murex variegatus Perry, 1811 and Fusus laticostatus Deshayes, 1831, formerly regarded as a junior synonym of Marmorofusus nicobaricus (Röding, 1798); Murex verrucosus Gmelin, 1791 (synonyms Fusus tuberculatus Anton, 1839 non Lamarck, 1822, F. marmoratus Philippi, 1846 and F. rudicostatus G.B. Sowerby II, 1880); F. polygonoides Lamarck, 1822 (synonym F. biangulatus Deshayes, 1833); F. tuberculatus (Lamarck, 1822) (synonyms Fusus indicus Anton, 1839, F. maculiferus Tapparone Canefri, 1875, Fusinus t. priscai Bozzetti, 2013 and F. t. fuscobandatus Bozzetti, 2017); Fusus philippii Jonas in Philippi, 1846, an earlier name for Fusus tessellatus G.B. Sowerby II, 1880 (other probable synonyms Fusus exilis Menke, 1843, non Conrad, 1832 and Fusinus dampieri Finlay, 1930, replacement name for F. exilis Menke); Fusus oblitus (Reeve, 1847) (synonym Fusus turrispictus Hedley, 1918); F. leptorhynchus Tapparone Canefri, 1875 (synonym F. subquadratus G.B. Sowerby II, 1880), Fusinus vercoi Snyder, 2004; F. wellsi Snyder, 2004; F. brianoi Bozzetti, 2006; F. verbinneni Snyder, 2006; and F. bishopi Petuch & Berschauer, 2017. Fusus toreuma Deshayes, 1843, sometimes misidentified as M. tuberculatus, is a member of the Fusinus colus (Linnaeus, 1758) species group.

We used a molecular phylogenetic approach to investigate species delimitation and diversification in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean musseldrills of the Ocinebrina aciculata complex, based on molecular data from topotypical material of many of the nominal taxa. The complex is shown to consist of at least five species: Ocinebrina aciculata (Lamarck, 1822) from the Atlantic and western Mediterranean; O. cf. corallina (Scacchi, 1836) from the central Mediterranean Sea; O. reinai Bonomolo & Crocetta, 2012 from the Tyrrhenian Sea; O. corallinoides Pallary, 1912 from the Gulf of Gabes; and O. aegeensis n. sp. currently known from the Aegean Sea only. The new species is differentiated from the other taxa by very subtle morphological diagnostic features, although it is clearly identified by genetic distance and apomorphic DNA-sequence characters. The identity of Murex corallinus Scacchi, 1836 (type species of Ocinebrina Jousseaume, 1880) could not be defined with certainty, pending genetic comparison of specimens of the â €? large Tyrrhenian morphotype' (corresponding to the neotype, but not assayed herein) with the assayed â €? small morphotype'.

The control of Zika virus mosquito vectors and well as the development of drugs in the fight against biofilm-forming microbial pathogens, are timely and important challenges in current bionanoscience. Here we focused on the eco-friendly fabrication of Ag nanostructures using the seed extract of Pedalium murex, an ancient Indian medicinal plant. Initial confirmation of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) production was showed by a color change from transparent to dark brown. The UV-Visible spectrum (476nm), X-ray diffraction peaks (101, 200, 220 and 311) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shed light on the production of green-capped AgNPs. Morphological structure analysis using HR-TEM showed that the AgNPs were mostly hexagonal in shape with rough edges, and a size of 20-30nm. The larvicidal potential of P. murex seed extract and AgNPs fabricated using the P. murex seed extract (Pm-AgNPs) was tested on fourth instar mosquito larvae of the Zika virus vector Aedes aegypti. Maximum efficacy was achieved by Pm-AgNPs against Ae. aegypti after 24h (LC50 34.88; LC90 64.56mg/ml), if compared to the P. murex seed extract. Histopathological analyses showed severe damages to the hindgut and larval muscles in NPs-treated Ae. aegypti larvae. The sub-MIC concentrations of Pm-AgNPs exhibited significant anti-biofilm activity against Gram positive (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial pathogens, as showed by EPS and MTP assays. Light and CLSM microscopic studies highlighted a significant impact of P. murex seed extract and Pm-synthesized AgNPs on the surface topography and architecture of bacterial biofilm, both in Gram positive and Gram negative species. Overall, results reported here contribute to the development of reliable large-scale protocols for the green fabrication of effective mosquito larvicides and biofilm inhibitors.

Pedalium murex (Pedaliaceae), commonly called Large Caltrops, is known for its pharmacological uses in traditional medicine system. It is reported to have excellent medicinal properties that helps cure reproductive disorders, mainly impotency in men, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhea as well as leucorrhoea in women. Apart from that, it also contains remedy for urinary and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Pharmacologically, the plant has been investigated for antiulcerogenic, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antidermatophytic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. The present review is a bundle of information collected from the published research articles and highlights the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of P. murex. The information will be helpful in developing the new formulation with therapeutic and economical value in the future.

The banded murex Hexaplex trunculus and purple dye murex Bolinus brandaris are frequently caught as bycatch by bottom trawlers operating in the Gulf of Gabes, southern Tunisia. Although these muricid gastropods might importantly constitute an additional source of income for fishermen as well as help to diversify local shellfish production, information on their catches is relatively scarce. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the status of local populations of H. trunculus and B. brandaris, including data on their spatial and depth distributions, abundance, biomass, population structure and mortality. Fishing surveys using bottom trawls were performed between May 2006 and June 2007 in offshore areas of the Gulf of Gabes. In total, 198 fishing hauls were analysed, corresponding to a total fishing duration of 333.3 hours and a total prospecting area of 1 534 ha at depths of 20–86 m. Altogether, 3 026 H. trunculus and 3 599 B. brandaris of a broad size range (22.9−91.1 and 22.4−97.0 mm shell length, resp...

Sterculia murex, the wild Lowveld chestnut, is an indigenous tree from southern Africa. In South Africa, this tree has a very restricted distribution in eastern Mpumalanga. The tree is identified by its distinctive flowers and spiky fruits, and is also known for its oily and sweet-tasting seeds. Although the seeds are consumed by local communities, no data is available on the safety and commercial value of the nuts. This paper is the first published report on the safety and composition of S. murex nuts since the unpublished report by Wehmeyer in 1986. The microbiological analysis confirms the minimal presence of microorganisms in the raw material but no contamination or mycotoxins were observed after roasting. Due to the high water content (9.99%), a drying of ten days at 35 °C was found to be required in order to obtain a suitable product for roasting. The nuts were found to contain 14% protein, with a high percentage of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, leucine and glycine, and 16% oil. The roasted nuts possess phenolics with a good antioxidant activity and can be considered as a fairly good source of selenium, copper, calcium and iron. The sensory evaluation highlights the aftertaste of the roasted nuts. Therefore, the roasted nuts are best incorporated as an ingredient into breakfast cereals mixes or snacks and energy bars to take advantage of its good nutritive food value.

Saint-Charles hill in Marseille was the subject of preventive archaeology operations from 2000 to 2008 prior to a real estate rehabilitation project. The preliminary evaluations showed that it was partially occupied during the Mesolithic I and the Early Neolithic (8th-6th millennia BC) and probably completely during the Middle and Recent Neolithic (4th millennium BC). However, only four ‘ prehistoric sites’, defined artificially by the different areas covered by the rehabilitation project and for which the stratigraphic levels were well preserved, were excavated. At the top of the hill, on the Bernard-du-Bois site, the stratigraphy yielded coherent archaeological assemblages and the levels, about one metre high, covered periods from the Mesolithic I to the Early, Middle and Recent Neolithic with a hiatus for the Mesolithic II. Lower down, the sites of Nédelec, Voie Nouvelle and Rue Longue-des-Capucins corresponded to an extension of the Bernard-du-Bois site during the Middle Neolithic. At Nédelec too, the stratigraphy was over a metre thick and delivered, in the best preserved plots of the site, nine accumulated levels of archaeological structures (postholes, pits) dating from the Middle and Recent Neolithic. Structures of various types (postholes, pits, open-air dwelling floors, house plan, earth walls, probably a kiln) and material (lithic artefacts, ceramics) on all the sites showed successive occupations of this portion of the hill. One of major characteristics of these occupations and the subject of this article is the presence of marine malacofauna in all the archaeological levels on the hill, without any other remains of wild or domestic terrestrial fauna or wild and cultivated plants. Their number is however relatively small, just under 4 000 individuals for all four sites for the whole period. The study allows hypotheses to be proposed regarding the reasons for this exclusive presence. The study highlights an evolution over the long term of the different species present. After limpets (Patella sp.) and winkles (Phorcus turbinatus) consumed during the Mesolithic I, cockles (Cerastoderma sp.), clams (Ruditapes decussatus) and winkles (Phorcus turbinatus) follow in the Early Neolithic, then cerithes (Cerithium vulgatum) and winkles (Phorcus turbinatus) in the Middle Neolithic and finally murex (Hexaplex trunculus) and triton or trumpet shell (Charonia lampas and C. variegata) in the recent Neolithic. This succession is particularly represented on the Bernarddu-Bois site where all these periods are stratigraphically accumulated. The various choices of gathering allow us to estimate the way the occupants of the hill exploited the surrounding environments, particularly in the Neolithic where several biotopes were accessible (rocky shore, sandy beach, brackish water lagoon, posidoniae). The choice of the species and habitat seems to have been deliberate for every period and allows us to presume preferential options in connection with an evolution of taste and gathering-collecting techniques throughout the period the hill was occupied. In the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic, the small proportion of shells and their dispersal on the archaeological ground levels on the Bernard-du-Bois site lead us to favour the hypothesis of a deposit rather than that of a midden. Gathering or collecting of the main marine mollusc species of these periods seems to have been integrated opportunistically into the territorial exploitation strategy and they could have been brought back onto the hill during seasonal movements as a supplement to some other type of diet. In the Middle and Recent Neolithic, there were still shell deposits. However, gathering strategies turned towards shellfish with higher energy efficiency, the consumption of which could partially compensate a meat-based diet of terrestrial origin. In addition, during the Middle Neolithic, due to the effects of higher sea levels, the hill moved from the status of a hinterland site to that of a coastal site. The hill was frequented by more people, over longer periods. This raises questions about the change of status of these various occupations and about their place in the economy of coastal resources in chrono-cultural contexts of the Mesolithic and Neolithic in the northern Mediterranean. During the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic, the presence of marine malacofauna on coastal sites and on the hill suggests complementarity, within the Marseille basin. In the Middle Neolithic, the hill was integrated into the raw materials circulation networks (Bedoulian flint, greenstone) of southern France but the nature of the exchanges with the inland sites remains unknown. This study thus contributes information on the apparently varied economic strategies organized by human groups of the southern Mesolithic and Neolithic for the management of the coastal environment in relationship with inland sites at the time of the passage to the Holocene. In general, the composition of the Early Neolithic diet was still based on the exploitation of wild fauna and plants in addition to agro-pastoral production (Courtin, 2003 ; Binder and Sénépart, 2004 ; Sénépart, 2007). During the Middle and Recent Neolithic this tendency seems to have decreased considerably, and even to have disappeared. The situation of the sites on Saint-Charles hill, where the diet was still based on this type of foodstuffs, is thus paradoxical., La colline Saint-Charles à Marseille a fait l’objet d’opérations d’archéologie préventive de 2000 à 2008 au préalable à une réhabilitation immobilière. Les sondages préliminaires ont montré qu’elle était partiellement occupée durant le Mésolithique I et le Néolithique ancien (VIIIe et VIe millénaires av. J.-C) et probablement entièrement durant le Néolithique moyen et récent (IVe millénaire av. J.-C.). Toutefois, seuls quatre «sites préhistoriques » définis artificiellement par l’emprise des opérations immobilières et pour lesquels les niveaux stratigraphiques étaient bien conservés ont fait l’objet de fouilles. Des structures d’habitat de différentes natures (trous de poteaux, fosses, sols de circulation, plan d’habitat, murs en terre) et du matériel archéologique (lithique, céramique) sur l’ensemble des sites témoignent des occupations successives de cette portion de colline. L’une des caractéristiques majeures de ces habitats et l’objet de cet article est la présence de malacofaune marine dans tous les niveaux archéologiques de la colline à l’exclusion de tous autres vestiges de faune terrestre sauvage ou domestique et de restes végétaux sauvages ou cultivés. L’étude permet d’avancer quelques hypothèses sur les raisons de cette présence exclusive. Elle met en évidence une évolution sur le long terme des espèces en présence. Aux patelles (Patella sp.) et bigorneaux (Phorcus turbinatus) consommés au Mésolithique I, succèdent les coques (Cerastoderma sp.) et les bigorneaux (Phorcus turbinatus) au Néolithique ancien, puis les cérithes (Cerithium vulgatum) et les bigorneaux (Phorcus turbinatus) au Néolithique moyen et enfin les murex (Hexaplex trunculus) et les tritons (Charonia lampas et variegata) au Néolithique moyen-récent. Le choix des espèces et du biotope apparaît orienté pour chaque période et permet de supposer des options préférentielles de cueillette en relation avec une évolution du goût et des techniques de collecte tout au long de l’occupation de la colline. Au Mésolithique et au Néolithique, la faible proportion de coquilles et leur dispersion au sol sur le site de Bernard-du-Bois ne conduisent pas à privilégier l’hypothèse d’un amas coquillier, mais plutôt celui d’un dépôt coquillier. La cueillette de la malacofaune marine du Mésolithique I et du Néolithique ancien semble intégrée de façon opportuniste aux stratégies d’exploitation du territoire et pourrait être rapportée sur la colline à la faveur de déplacements saisonniers en complément d’un autre type de diète alimentaire. Au Néolithique moyen et récent, il s’agit toujours d’un dépôt coquillier. Toutefois, les stratégies de collecte s’orientent vers des coquillages à plus fort rendement alimentaire dont la consommation pourrait compenser en partie une diète carnée d’origine terrestre. Par ailleurs, à partir du Néolithique moyen, sous les effets de la remontée de la mer, la colline passe d’un statut de site «d’arrière-pays » à celui de site côtier. La fréquentation de la colline devient plus pérenne. Durant le Mésolithique I et le Néolithique ancien, la présence de malacofaune marine sur les sites du littoral et sur la colline laisse supposer des liens de complémentarité, internes au bassin de Marseille. Au Néolithique moyen, la colline est intégrée aux réseaux de circulation de matières premières lithiques qui prennent place en dehors du bassin de Marseille (silex bédoulien, roches vertes), mais la nature des contreparties échangées demeure inconnue. Les stratégies économiques mises en place par les groupes humains du Mésolithique et du Néolithique méridional pour la gestion de l’environnement côtier en relation avec les sites de l’arrière-pays au moment du passage à l’Holocène apparaissent variées., Sénépart Ingrid, Weydert Nicolas, Dubesset Denis, Sargiano Jean-Philippe. The Limpets and Winkles’ Enigma. Premier aperçu sur la malacofaune marine des occupations mésolithiques et néolithiques de la colline Saint-Charles à Marseille (VIIIe millénaire-IVe millénaire av. J.-C.). In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 114, n°1, 2017. pp. 25-52.

Murex (Muricantha) trunculus var. propeconglobata Bellini, 1902a: 99���100 Type locality: Capri Island (Naples, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Original description: ���rigonfio, varici mutiche. La variet�� qui notata �� riferita al M. conglobatus, Michelotti, il cui tipo �� fossile del terziario piemontese; la nostra forma mediterranea, pur essendo vicinissima a quella descritta dal geologo torinese, ne differisce perch�� alquanto meno rigonfia e raccorciata ed �� quindi da distinguersi col nome di propeconglobata, la quale velerebbe cos�� ad essere l���anello di congiunzione principale tra le forme di questo tipo viventi e quelle esistenti un tempo nel mare pliocenico��� [bulgy, with rounded varices. The��� Hexaplex trunculus (Linneus, 1758), reported as Murex (Muricantha) trunculus L.��� variety here described is similar to M. conglobatus, Michelotti, whose type is a fossil from the Piedmontese Tertiary; our Mediterranean form, despite being very close to that described by the Turinese geologist, differs in being less swollen and shortened, and therefore deserves the name propeconglobata; it constitutes the conjunction between living forms and Pliocenic fossils]. Material examined: a single shell, presumably fossil, labelled by Monterosato ��� M. trunculus v. propeconglobata Bell���Boll. Della Soc. Dei Naturalisti di Napoli 1901, p. 99 ���Sciacca���Coll.Adami���fossile?��� [Sciacca���Adami collection���fossil?] (MCZR-M-7623) actually belongs to Hexaplex trunculus (Linneus, 1758) (Fig. 4D, E). Remarks: having been instituted on the basis of insignificant morphological characteristics, we rank it infrasubspecific, and thus not available (ICZN 2012: Art. 10.2, 45.5, 45.6, glossary). Despite this, it was listed as a variety of Hexaplex trunculus (Linneus, 1758) by several subsequent authors (Dollfus 1926; Priolo 1964; Settepassi 1970; Sabelli et al. 1992; Houart 2001). This taxon was not figured by Bellini (1902a); however, shell characters highlighted in the original description clearly point to H. trunculus. The nominal taxon may comprise a complex of cryptic species (Marzouk et al. 2017)., Published as part of Fasulo, Giuseppe, Duraccio, Sergio, Federico, Antonio & Crocetta, Fabio, 2019, The (almost) unknown Italian naturalist Raffaello Bellini (1874 - 1930): biography malacological publications, and status of his recent molluscan taxa, pp. 343-369 in Zootaxa 4668 (3) on page 353, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4668.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3449562, {"references":["Bellini, R. (1902 a) Contribuzione alla conoscenza della fauna dei molluschi marini dell'isola di Capri. Bollettino della Societa dei Naturalisti in Napoli, Series 1, 15, 85 - 121.","ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (2012) International code of zoological nomenclature. 4 th Edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London. Available from: http: // www. iczn. org / (accessed 15 Feburary 2019)","Dollfus, G. - F. (1926) Description des mollusques des couches du Pliocene inferieur de Kopliku, pres Scutari, d'Albanie. Journal de Conchyliologie, 70, 86 - 124.","Priolo, O. (1964) Nuova revisione delle Conchiglie marine di Sicilia - Memoria XV. Atti dell'Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali, 6 (16), 501 - 576.","Settepassi, F. (1970) Atlante Malacologico dei Molluschi marini viventi nel Mediterraneo. I. Corporazioni Arti Grafiche, Roma, 296 pp.","Sabelli, B., Giannuzzi-Savelli, R. & Bedulli, D. (1992) Catalogo Annotato dei Molluschi Marini del Mediterraneo. Vol. 2. Libreria Naturalistica Bolognese, Bologna, 498 pp.","Houart, R. (2001) A review of the recent Mediterranean and Northeastern Atlantic species of Muricidae. Evolver, Roma, 227 pp.","Marzouk, Z., Aurelle, D., Said, K. & Chenuil, A. (2017) Cryptic lineages and high population genetic structure in the exploited marine snail Hexaplex trunculus (Gastropoda: Muricidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 122 (2), 411 - 428. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / biolinnean / blx 070"]}

The Atlantic-Mediterranean Bursa scrobilator (Linnaeus, 1758) complex is represented by three morphologically distinct forms, two that are extant corresponding to the nominal taxa Murex scrobilator Linnaeus, 1758 and Ranella coriacea Reeve, 1844, and one fossil corresponding to Murex nodosus Borson, 1825. The complex is here reviewed integrating morphological, molecular (mitochondrial COI marker) and paleontological data. The ‘scrobilator’ and ‘coriacea’ forms are proposed as two subspecies: Bursa scrobilator scrobilator (Linnaeus, 1758) with an Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution, and Bursa scrobilator coriacea (Reeve, 1844) with a West African range. The evolutionary relationships of the two recent subspecies with their most probable ancestor, the Mediterranean Miocene fossil B. nodosa, are also discussed.

There is a tank hewn into coastal Pleistocene limestone near Diu city on the Saurashtra Peninsula of western India. Site survey and a review of similar structures worldwide provide evidence that this tank could have been used for holding fish or Murex snails. The approximately 5 × 5 m tank is connected to the sea by a 1-m-deep canal; today it would be impossible to use the tank, given that not even the high spring tides can fill it. It is suggested that the Diu coast was uplifted by ∼0.5 m after the tank was hewn in the coastal platform. Since that time, the carved surfaces have been modified by coastal karst dissolution and have developed deep gouge marks. Uplift of the Diu coast raises the possibility of a major seismic event in Diu during the latter part of the last millennium.

The bioaccumulation of 20 pharmaceuticals in cockle (Cerastodema glaucum), noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis), sea snail (Murex trunculus), golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) and black goby (Gobius niger) was evaluated, considering their distribution throughout the Mar Menor lagoon and their variations in spring and autumn 2010. The analytical procedure was adapted for the different matrices as being sensitive and reproducible. Eighteen out of the 20 compounds analysed were found at low ng g−1 in these species throughout the lagoon. Hydrochlorothiazide and carbamazepine were detected in all species considered. The bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals was heterogeneous in the lagoon, with a higher number of pharmaceuticals being detected in fish (18) than in wild molluscs (8), particularly in golden grey mullet muscle (16). В-blockers and psychiatric drugs were preferentially bioccumulated in fish and hydrochlorothiazide was also confirmed in caged clams. The higher detection frequency and concentrations found in golden grey mullet suggested that mugilids could be used as an indicator of contamination by pharmaceuticals in coastal areas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that shows data about hydrochlorothiazide, levamisole and codeine in wild marine biota., SI

In the days of the Roman Empire, Tyrian purple dye cost more than gold. The rare and royal pigment had to be painstakingly extracted from Murex brandaris sea snails—as many as 10,000 of the mollusk...

brocchii, Murex [Hadriania craticulata Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882] (Figures 24A, B) 1872a: 32 [V: 70]—available name Type material. MCZR –M–7986 —2 sh “ Hadriana brocchii Monts. Marsala (Sicilia)”. Type locality. Described from Monte Pellegrino † and Ficarazzi † (Sicily) and Mediterranean Sea. Remarks. Name introduced for Murex craticulatus Linnaeus, 1758 sensu Brocchi (1814) considered as a distinct species. Recorded by MolluscaBase (2018) as a synonym of Hadriania craticulata Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882. cyclopus, Ocinebrina (ex Benoit ms.) [Ocenebra edwardsii (Payraudeau, 1826)] (Figures 24C, D 1872a: 33 [V: 71]—as M. costulatus Nardo, 1847 nomen nudum 1872b: 48 [VI: 130]—as synonym of M. edwardsii Payraudeau, 1826 —nomen nudum 1875b: 39 [XIII: 265]—as synonym of M. edwardsii Payraudeau, 1826 —nomen nudum 1878c: 101 [XIX: 415]—nomen nudum 1880b: 226 [XXVI: 524]—nomen nudum 1884h: 112 [XXXI: 768]—available name Type material. MCZR–M–30033 —3 sh “ M. cyclopus Ben. ms. Palermo”// 3 sh “var = M. cyclopum Benoit Palermo” Brugnone’s handwrite. Type locality. Described from coasts of Barberia (Tunisia), Liguria (‘coasts of Piedmont’; Italy), Palermo (Sicily) and Algeria. Remarks. Settepassi (1977) figured two syntypes as Ocinebrina (Ocinebrina) cyclopus Monterosato, 1884 (Benoit ms.). Recorded by MolluscaBase (2018) as a synonym of Ocenebra edwardsii (Payraudeau, 1826)., Published as part of Appolloni, Massimo, Smriglio, Carlo, Amati, Bruno, Lugliè, Lorenzo, Nofroni, Italo, Tringali, Lionello P., Mariottini, Paolo & Oliverio, Marco, 2018, Catalogue of the primary types of marine molluscan taxa described by Tommaso Allery Di Maria, Marquis of Monterosato, deposited in the Museo Civico di Zoologia, Roma, pp. 1-138 in Zootaxa 4477 (1) on pages 63-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4477.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1454652, {"references":["Brocchi, G. B. (1814) Conchiologia fossile subapennina con osservazioni geologiche sugli Apennini e sul suolo adiacente. 2 Vols. Stamperia Reale, Milano, 56 + 80 [Roman numerals] + 712 pp., 16 pls.","Payraudeau, B. C. (1826) Catalogue descriptif et methodique des Annelides et des Mollusques de l'ile de Corse. Imprimerie J. Tastu, Paris, 218 pp., 8 pls.","Nardo, G. D. (1847) Sinonimia moderna delle specie registrate nell'opera intitolata: descrizione de' crostacei, de' testacei e de pesci che abitano le lagune e golfo veneto rappresentati in figure, a chiaroscuro ed a colori dall' Abate Stefano Chiereghini Ven. Clodiense applicata per commissione governativa dal Dr. Gio. Domenico Nardo. Stabilimento Antonelli, Venezia, ix + 128 pp.","Settepassi, F. (1977) Atlante malacologico dei molluschi marini del Mediterraneo. Vol. II. Inivag, Roma, 304 pp., 96 pls [' 1971 ' on frontispiece]"]}

Fruits of Pedalium murex known as, ‘Gokhru’ is predominantly used in Ayurveda for its aphrodisiac properties and use in treatment of urological orders. However till now, bioactivity of this fruit has not been documented for plant protection against phytopathogenes, Hence in this regard, we investigated antimicrobial activity of P. murex fruit extracts (isolated from the different agro climatic zones of India) were tested against twelve microbial phytopathogens. From 29 fruit extracts, only 13 were found to be active against three pathogens viz. Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Among the nine TLC fractions only one showed presence of a single peak, thus presence of a single compound in the crude extract. Based on lower IC50 value (328 μg/ml) the crude fruit extract collected from Indore region was further characterized. Evaluation against screened phytopathogens indicates its activity. Further, structural characterization of this compound using FTIR and NMR revealed it to be a novel compound i.e. 5-β-Hydroxyl tridecanyl benzoate. Our study paves a way to investigate effective dose of P. murex fruit extracts to utilize in plant protection programs. In future, a better method is required to scale up the process of bioactive molecule (5-β-Hydroxyl tridecayl benzoate) extraction from P. murex or for its chemical synthesis.

Purpose Pedalium murex is a fruit-bearing annual herb, native to South India, Mexico and tropical Africa. The plant is widely used to treat numerous diseases including gastric ulcer, asthma, heart problems, anti inflammatory activity and particularly urinary disorders. Traditional medicine has become a skilled approach by means of rational values in handling a variety of diseases and developing an affordable phytotherapy. It is proclaimed that P.murex is an expensive source of unique bioactive compounds for the development of natural medicines against various diseases. Conclusion This review provides the details of ethno pharmacological importance of P. murex, as well as its composition of phytochemicals, biological activities and traditional usage. Also provides a source for future studies such as isolation of bioactive components and mechanism of action of this plant extract.

The following examination of the textual evidence for purple dyeing in late Bronze Age Syria and Mesopotamia highlights a disconnect between the written sources and the physical remains for colored textiles recently unearthed at Qaṭnā (Tell Mishrīfe). By charting the relationship between developments in the dyeing industry against wider economic forces in this period, this essay addresses the impact of Bronze Age technologies on the evolution of Akkadian color language.

Trial archaeological excavations undertaken at the hillfort of Sveta Trojica (Holy Trinity), situated on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, yielded significant amounts of pottery and several metal finds, including coins dating between the 4th and the end of the 1st century BC. The settlement is attributed to the autochthonous, protohistoric Liburnian community. Early Roman artefacts were found on the slopes closer to the sea shore, including an interesting grave of an auxiliary soldier of the late Augustan-early Tiberian period. The site includes a Byzantine fortress in the area between the protohistoric settlement and the sea shore. A curious superficial layer of crushed shells has been observed on the western slopes of the hillfort. This consists of Muricidae shells, heavily fragmented and obviously deliberately crushed. This paper examines the possibility that these shell remains indicate small-scale dye production alongside evidence of dye production on the Eastern Adriatic coast during the Roman period, and from information recorded by ancient sources that describe textile production among the Liburni, and will present possible new approaches and discuss the possibilities of protohistoric dye production.

The rare-spined murex (Murex trapa) is an ecologically and economically important species of Muricidae, which comprises a highly diverse group of predatory marine snails. However, the taxonomic classification and phylogenetic studies have so far been limited. In this study, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome of Murex from M. trapa. The mitogenome has 15,408 bp (66.3% A + T content) and made up of total of 37 genes (13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs), and a control region. This study provided the first complete mitogenome of Murex and will provide useful genetic information for future phylogenetic and taxonomic classification of Muricidae.

In this article we shall focus on the chemical and chromatographic analyses that were used in the study of three textiles that were found in a cave in wadi Murabba'at, the Judean desert. The textiles date to the Roman period, and were dyed with a prestigious purple dye. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) identified the Murex sea snail Hexaplex trunculus as a source of dye for the three textiles. Nevertheless, the dyeing process was not uniform. The color of one textile was modified to greenish-blue, apparently by exposure to the sun during the dyeing process. The two other textiles were subject to a double-dyeing process, and underwent a second dipping in a dye solution extracted from the Armenian cochineal insect. This process resulted in a reddish-purple color, which was indicative of high status. This is the first time that this dyeing technique was identified in ancient textiles from Israel. The multi-disciplinary research also identified different origins for the textiles.