Chemical Characterization, Temperature Stability, and Enzymatic Studies on Edible Marine Algae Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty)

Abstract

Antioxidant activity of the marine alga Kappaphycus alvarezii was investigated. Methanol, acetone, petroleum ether, aqueous methanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform extracts (1 mg/mL) of K. alvarezii were tested for their 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. The values were compared with those of Vitamin C and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Extracts showing positive results, when tested for DPPH free radical scavenging, were examined for dose effect, in-vivo hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. All extracts showed dose-dependent DPPH scavenging and significant hydroxyl radical scavenging activities (> 82.6%). The acetone, aqueous methanol, and methanol extracts of K. alvarezii showed the highest scavenging activity. Ethyl acetate extract showed a moderate activity of 62.9%. In the DPPH method, petroleum ether and hexane extracts showed less activity with IC₅₀ values of 118.58 ± 8.94 and 116.25 ± 7.14 μg/mL, respectively. Acetone, methanol, and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited IC₅₀ values of 57.32 ± 1.07, 61.31 ± 0.67, and 79.50 ± 1.59 μg/mL, respectively. K. alvarezii showed higher antioxidant activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Proton NMR studies revealed signals in the region 0.5 to 2.0 ppm suggesting the presence of steroidal identity in the extracts.

Keywords:

• antioxidant
• Kappaphycus
• marine algae
• Gulf of Mannar
• proton NMR
• oxygenated steroids

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by USRF grant from the Research Fund of the Madurai Kamaraj University, India.