Planta Med 2014; 80 - P1N28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394618

Evaluation of mineral composition and antioxidant capacity of three brown macroalgae species (Phaeophyceae) from the Portuguese Coast

V Domingues 1, M Jordão 1, A Pedrosa 1, L Pereira 2, SM Cardoso 1
  • 1CERNAS, School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3040 – 316 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 2IMAR, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3001 – 401 Coimbra, Portugal

Seaweeds are a great source of valuable compounds, including essential minerals and antioxidants [1]. Notably, the content of these components in a macroalgae species depend on distinct factors, such as the type of habitat, the quality and the intensity of light, exposure to UV-radiation, temperature, and salinity, among others [2]. Up to this moment, the knowledge of the chemical compositionof seaweeds from the Portuguese Coast is still very limited. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the mineral composition and antioxidant contents of Sargassum muticum, Fucus vesiculosos and Bifurcaria bifurcata.

The mineral composition of the three macroalgae species was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, after acidic treatment of the ashes. Antioxidants were evaluated [3] in two extracts which were sequentially obtained by the use of acetone:water (70:30, v:v) and boiling water. Concentrations of sodium and potassium in the three seaweeds ranged from approximately 1800 – 5200 mg/100 g DW and 2200 – 6000 mg/100 g DW, respectively and ratio Na/K was between 0.7 – 1.5. From the three macroalgae, S. muticum was the most enriched in calcium and magnesium (approximate 1200 and 1800 mg/100 g DW, respectively), followed by F. vesiculosos and B. bifurcata. In turn, B. bifurcata was the most promising source of antioxidant compounds. In fact, the total antioxidants recovered in the two extracts obtained from this macroalgae accounted for 54.43 mg GAE/g DW, i.e., approximately 2.5 and 6 times higher than those recovered from F. vesiculosus and S. muticum, respectively. This study suggests that S. muticum, F. vesiculosos and B. bifurcata from Portuguese Coast can have multiple applications in distinct industries e.g. food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical.

Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) to CERNAS (PEst-OE/AGR/UI0681/2014) and IMAR-CMA.

Keywords: Mineral composition, antioxidants, Sargassum muticum, Fucus vesiculosos, Bifurcaria bifurcata.

References:

[1] Cardoso, S.M. et al. (2014) Curr Org Chem 18:896 – 917.

[2] Marinho-Soriano, E. et al. (2006), Bioresour 97:2402 – 2406.

[3] Pereira, O.R. et al. (2012), Food Chem 662 – 659.