Abstract
Natural extracts of macroalgae are widely recognized for their antioxidant properties. In this work, the antioxidant capacity of various aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from red and green marine algae and from one marine lichen collected from different sites in southern Spain (intertidal and estuarine waters) was evaluated by different methods: ABTS free radical scavenging assay, DPPH assay, and beta-carotene bleaching method (BBM). Contents of total lipids, total carbohydrates, and UV photoprotectors with antioxidant capacity, such as mycosporine-like amino acids and phenolic compounds, were determined. Among the extraction solvents, the highest extraction yield was observed in H2O and 20% MeOH (v/v). The highest antioxidant activity was found in the extracts of the red macroalgae Hydropuntia cornea, Gracilariopsis longissima, Halopithys incurva, and Porphyra umbilicalis, whereas the lowest activity was detected in the green macroalga Ulva rotundata. In general, the antioxidant activity was higher using DPPH than BBM and ABTS. Even so, the ABTS assay is an easy and quick test that provides a comprehensive view of the entire extract in both the lipophilic medium and hydrophilic medium. The antioxidant activity was related to the composition of bioactive compounds and synergistic action is not discarded. The biotechnological use of macroalgal extracts with high antioxidant capacity is discussed.
Highlights
Marine organisms, including algae and lichen, have attracted the attention of many researchers as sources of bioactive compounds because of their properties, the diversity of their molecules, and their novel chemical structures which are complex and difficult to synthesize chemically
The water content in the studied species varied between 60% and 90% (Table 1) and the organic matter content ranged from 9.4% in Halopithys incurva to the lowest values of less than 6% in Gracilariopsis longissima and Hydropuntia cornea (Table 1)
It is noteworthy that in the aqueous medium (H2O), the antioxidant capacity observed by the DPPH and ABTS methods was similar in 55% of the species analyzed; an explanation for this result is that both methods have the same action mechanism
Summary
Marine organisms, including algae and lichen, have attracted the attention of many researchers as sources of bioactive compounds because of their properties, the diversity of their molecules, and their novel chemical structures which are complex and difficult to synthesize chemically. Las algas proporcionan una excelente fuente de compuestos bioactivos como carotenoides, polisacáridos, proteínas, lípidos, ácidos grasos, pigmentos, vitaminas, polifenoles y microelementos, entre otras sustancias Ciencias Marinas, Vol 42, No 4, 2016 algae are currently used as ingredients with bioactive properties in cosmeceutical products. These cosmetic products differ from classic cosmetics in that they have therapeutic or pharmacological properties. There is increased interest in natural active compounds as an alternative to synthetic substances. These compounds often show lower activity, they are nontoxic and do not generate residues
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