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Physico- and biochemical properties of alginates extracted from Ecklonia maxima and Sargassum fluitans using a simple cascade process

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Abstract

Alginate fractions from the pelagic Sargassum fluitans (Børgesen) Børgesen and kelp, Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss sourced from the coastal waters of Ghana and South Africa respectively, were extracted by a simple sequential protocol different from the conventional methods. A total of six different phycocolloids were obtained, with two extracted under ambient conditions (fractions 1A) and the remaining four under hot conditions (fractions 2A and 3A) using ethanol and CaCl2, respectively, for precipitation. These extracts were assessed for variations in their physicochemical properties, tyrosinase inhibition, antioxidation and anticoagulation activities. Molecular weights of the extracts were ~ 58–1506 kDa with their yields ranging between 4.8 to 11.1%. A sequential reduction (up to tenfold) was observed in their total phenolic compounds, proteins and sulphate contents. 1H-NMR analysis of their uronic acid block structure revealed M/G ratios less than 1 for all extracts with dominant FGG and FGGG units depicting guluronic acid rich alginate fractions. Extracts from S. fluitans, notably, showed distinct antioxidation activity comparable to the well-known antioxidants like ascorbic acid. For tyrosinase inhibition, the highest was from S. fluitans fraction 1A (~ 37.1 ± 4.38%). The variations in properties of extracts reported herein, elucidates the possibility of obtaining series of relatively desirable alginate fractions from E. maxima and Ghanaian sourced S. fluitans via this modified extraction process.

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Data Availability

Data can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Keemilise ja Bioloogilise Füüsika Instituut (KBFI), Tallinn Estonia for the 1H-NMR analysis and spectra acquisition of all the different extracted fractions.

Funding

Research funding was provided by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs grant TYA21090 and the Estonian Research Council grant PRG1808. 1H-NMR spectra were acquired on the instrumentation of the Estonian Centre of Analytical Chemistry (AKKI, TT4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Narva Mnt 29, 10120, Tallinn, Estonia

    Clarisa Naa Shormeh Darko, Amal D. Premarathna, Sanjida Humayun & Rando Tuvikene

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ghana, Annie Jiagge Rd., Legon-Accra, Ghana

    Benjamin Agyei-Tuffour

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag XI, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa

    Neill J. Goosen

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  1. Clarisa Naa Shormeh Darko
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  4. Benjamin Agyei-Tuffour
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Contributions

All co-authors contributed and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication. CNSD: Conceptualization, investigation, writing, interpretation and analysis of data. ADP and SH: investigation, data analysis, review and editing. BAT and NJG: conceptualization, provision of seaweed samples, review and editing. RT: conceptualization, project administration, supervision, funding acquisition, review and editing.

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Correspondence to Clarisa Naa Shormeh Darko.

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Darko, C.N.S., Premarathna, A.D., Humayun, S. et al. Physico- and biochemical properties of alginates extracted from Ecklonia maxima and Sargassum fluitans using a simple cascade process. J Appl Phycol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-03023-x

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