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Chemical profile and antioxidant activities of 26 selected species of seaweeds from Kuwait coast

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Abstract

The Kuwait coast is unique with high water temperature (36 °C), salinity (34–45 ppt), and UV index (8–9). Although 113 species of seaweeds are reported from this coast, not much work has been done to explore the bioactive compounds present in these seaweeds and their antioxidant potential. In the present study, water, 50% ethanol, and absolute ethanolic extracts of 26 species of seaweeds collected from the Kuwait coast of Arabian Gulf were screened for phytochemicals, phenolics, and antioxidant activities. Significant variations were observed in phytochemicals, phenolic composition, and antioxidant activities of extracts from various seaweeds. The phenolic content, antiradical power, and reducing power were higher for ethanolic extracts, whereas water extracts showed high iron chelating activity. Canistrocarpus cervicornis and almost all the Sargassum species studied showed better antiradical power and reducing power, while Padina gymnospora and Polysiphonia platycarpa showed the highest iron chelating activity of > 95%. Phytochemical screening of the extracts shows the presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, and cardiac glycosides. The seaweeds from this geographical location contain more flavonoids than phlorotannins in the temperate counterparts. Interestingly, almost all seaweeds studied contained hydroquinone, a known skin whitening agent. Thus, the seaweeds from this region could be potentially rich sources of antioxidants for food and pharma.

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Funding

The authors are thankful to the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) for giving fund to establish the Marine Bioprospecting Laboratory at the Marine Research Campus of KISR Salmiya and for financing this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecosystem-Based Management of Marine Resources Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 1638, 22017, Salmiya, Kuwait

    K. H. Sabeena Farvin, A. Surendraraj, Aws Al-Ghunaim & Faiza Al-Yamani

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  1. K. H. Sabeena Farvin
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  2. A. Surendraraj
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  3. Aws Al-Ghunaim
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  4. Faiza Al-Yamani
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Correspondence to K. H. Sabeena Farvin.

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Farvin, K.H.S., Surendraraj, A., Al-Ghunaim, A. et al. Chemical profile and antioxidant activities of 26 selected species of seaweeds from Kuwait coast. J Appl Phycol 31, 2653–2668 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-019-1739-8

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