Phytochemical analysis and DPPH radical scavenging activity of marine red seaweed Gracilaria corticata

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V. Sornalakshmi, P.S. Tresina, K. Jeba Ananthi

Abstract

In recent times, researchers paid more attention on marine macro algae or seaweeds owing its biological activities with their multiple applications to the humans. In the marine environment red seaweeds are renowned for their biological activities due to the presence of various bioactive substances including phenolic residues. The present investigation deals with the qualitiative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of red seaweed Gracilaria corticata. DPPH radical scavenging activity using different solvent extracts also performed. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the existence of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, aromatic acids, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, coumarins, quinones, anthroquinones and catechins. G. corticata contains 16.7% protein, 1.0 % lipid, 7.9% carbohydrate, 3.14 mg GAE/g DW phenol and 1.05 mg GAE/g DW flavonoid. Maximum DPPH radical scavenging ability was recorded by ethanol extract (74.5%) followed by methanol (73.82%), water (73.62%), chloroform (36.9%) and petroleum ether (18.2%). No scavenging activity recorded by benzene extract.

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