Abstract

SCREENING OF PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT EFFICACY ON SELECTED RED SEAWEED (ACANTHOPHORA SPECIFERA) COLLECTED FROM GULF OF MANNAR, TAMILNADU, INDIA

*R.Rajesh Kumar and K.Jeyaprakash

Abstract

Acanthophora Specifera is a species of marine red seaweed and in the family Rhodomelaceae. They were freshly collected from Mandapam Coastal Area, Rameswaram Tamilnadu, India and rinsed in seawater and packed in aseptic bags for further proceedings to laboratory. Seaweeds are potential renewable resources in the marine environment. It has been used as antioxidant and antimutagen. Hence, the present study was carried out to exhibit the preliminary phytochemical screening and invitro antioxidant properties of various extracts of Acanthophora specifera. Methanol, ethanol and water extracts were prepared for further analysis. Out of these three extracts, methanolic extract showed the maximum phytoconstituents. The results of the present study revealed the presence of tannin, saponin, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, aminoacid, polyphenol, anthroquinone, glycosides. Our study also demonstrated the good invitro antioxidant efficacy of methanolic extract of Acanthophora specifera. Therefore, We concluded that Acanthophora specifera may be used as rich source of phytoconstituents and natural antioxidants.

Keywords: Red Seaweed, Phytochemical screening, In vitro antioxidant, Acanthophora specifera, Efficacy.