Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant properties of some selected seaweeds from Tuticorin coast

A B S T R A C T The antioxidant potential of acetone and ethanol extract of six seaweeds collected from Tuticorin coast were determined using total antioxidant activity, total phenolic activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay and reducing power. The acetone and ethanolic extract of brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma showed higher phenolic content than all seaweeds studied. Higher antioxidant activity was observed in acetone extract of D. dichotoma and Turbinaria ornata. Higher DPPH radical scavenging activity was also observed in the acetone extracts of D. dichotoma and T. ornata. The maximum and minimum FRAP value was observed in acetone extract of D. dichotoma and ethanol extract of Enteromorpha compressa respectively. In the present study, the extract of D. dichotoma was found to possess strong antioxidant activity. The antioxidant mechanisms of seaweed extracts may be attributed to their free radical- scavenging ability. In addition, phenolic compounds appear to be responsible for the antioxidant activity of seaweed extracts .