Phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and antioxidant capacities of a thermo-tolerant Scenedesmus sp. (Chlorophyta) extracted with different solvents

Abstract

The human body can fight against the adverse effects of chronic exposure to environmental pollutants and stress by consumption of a diet rich in antioxidants. Although fruits and vegetables are the predominant sources, alternative sources of antioxidants such as microalgae are also being explored. Here, we investigate the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic, flavonoid, and carotenoid contents of novel thermo-resistant green microalga Scenedesmus sp. ME02. This strain has previously been shown to have a high polyunsaturated fatty acid content. Four different solvents were used for extraction and the antioxidant capacity was determined to be 3.71 ± 0.11 and 47.01 ± 3.14 μmol Trolox eq. g−1 DW in ethanol/water mixture by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, respectively. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and carotenoid contents in ethanol/water were measured as 5.40 ± 0.28 mg gallic acid eq. g−1 DW, 1.61 ± 0.76 mg quercetin eq. g−1 DW, 0.61 ± 0.05 mg g−1, respectively. This is one of the few studies that reports the presence and quantification of total flavonoids in microalgae. The correlation between the total phenolic content and FRAP assay, but not the DPPH assay, was statistically significant. Finally, 12 different phenolic compounds were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC and ethyl acetate extract showed substantial amounts of quercetin (0.84 ± 0.12 mg g−1 DW) and rutin (0.11 ± 0.08 mg g−1 DW). Quercetin amount was also high in the ethanol/water extract along with gallic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, and chlorogenic acid. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports significant amounts of quercetin and rutin in a microalgal species.