Abstract

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OF MARINE ALGAE ISOLATED FROM GULF OF MANNAR

M. S. Leelavathi and Prasad M. P*

ABSTRACT

Seaweeds or marine algae constitute one of the commercially important renewable marine living resources. Seaweed dietary fibers perform varied range of functions such as antioxidant, antimutagenic, anticoagulant, antitumor etc. Marine organisms are emerging as good candidates as an alternate source for bioactive substances in pharmaceutical industry and also as a source of food and other health aspects. In the present study the phytochemical properties of some selected seaweeds and sea grass were analyzed. The Bioactive substances are extracted by Soxhlet assembly with various solvents such as petroleum ether, methanol and water. The Phytochemical properties of these seaweeds were determined by qualitative and quantitative methods. The results showed the presence of reducing sugars, glycosides, antraquinones, terpenoids, proteins, flavanoids, saponins, tannins, lignins and phenols. The total phenols and proteins present in seaweed samples ranged from 90 mg/ml to 300 mg/ml and 190 mg/ ml to 400 mg/ ml respectively. The total carbohydrate was found to be between 160 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml. The percentage of flavanoids, saponins and alkaloids ranged from 10% - 18%. From the above results it can be concluded that the marine seaweeds serve as potent and promising drugs for pharmacological industry.

Keywords: Seaweeds, Phytochemical, Alkaloids, Flavanoids, Saponins, Soxhlet apparatus.