Radical Scavenging Activity of Ethanol Extracts and Solvent Partitioned Fractions from Various Red Seaweeds

The EtOH extracts of red seaweeds (Symphyocladia latiuscula, Chondrus ocellatus and Carpopeltis affinis) and solvent partitioned fractions were investigated for their 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effects and the total phenolic contents were correlated with ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The EtOH extracts and their solvent partitioned fractions exhibited strong ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Among the solvent partitioned fractions obtained from n-Hexane (HX), methylenchloride (MC), ethylacetate (EA), and buthanol (BuOH), the HX fraction from C. affinis showed higher radical scavenging activities than other fractions. Total phenolic contents showed significant correlation ( $r^2$ = 0.709) with ABTS radical scavenging activity. The results of this study suggest that the strong radical scavenging activity of HX fraction from C. affinis is a promising natural antioxidant for healthcare products.