Bioactive Components of Three Seaweed Species from Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu Philippines

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the bioactive composition and properties of three selected marine seaweeds: <i>Ulva reticulata, Halymenia durvillei </i>and <i>Sargassum cristaefolium </i>from Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu Philippines. The proximate and heavy metal composition of the seaweeds were determined. Heavy metal analysis in seaweeds showed that zinc registered highest concentration (328.74 mg/kg) in <i>U. reticulata</i>. Other evaluated seaweed species registered lower concentrations of copper (Cu), mercury, and lead indicating that they could be eaten as source of Cu. The concentration reveals that these seaweeds could be source of the micronutrient, and copper. All other seaweeds are safe for human consumption. Nutritional proximate composition of seaweeds in this study revealed that the brown seaweed (i.e. <i>S. cristaefolium</i>) collected from Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu Philippines had highest average composition in terms of moisture, lipids, and total soluble solids. Results on nutritional proximate composition of seaweed varies due to the effect of geographical location, time of collection and the weather condition. Dried samples of <i>U. reticulata </i>showed best antioxidant activity while <i>S. cristaefolium</i> had least antioxidant activity. Sulu Philippines is one of the seaweeds suppliers in western Mindanao. Decades ago, seaweeds are known as food delicacy like <i>Caulerpa</i>, <i>Eucheuma</i> and <i>Gracilaria </i>spp. They are eaten raw while the industrial and medicinal uses of extracts from seaweeds were known later by inhabitants. There have been several feeding trials conducted to have the potential as source of aqua feed. Feeding the fishes with seaweed helps to prevent the occurrence of disease to certain extent. Seaweeds contain plenty of protein, vitamin and minerals. Moreover, seaweeds also contain potential bioactive compounds which exhibit antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. The phytochemicals responsible for the bioactivities could be present in the seaweeds which based on literature. In addition to “positive” roles, seaweeds also play critical roles in reef degradation, particularly in ecological “phase shifts” where abundant reef-building corals are replaced by abundant fleshy seaweed. Indeed, the seaweeds screened in this study possess bioactive components and antioxidant which may be considered for future applications in medicine, cosmetics, and some heavy metals composition which may be considered for future applications in food industry.