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Invasive Seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae: A Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds with Antioxidant Activity
Radia N A Belhadj1, Cristina Mellinas1, Alfonso Jiménez1
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition & Food Sciences, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain.
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 27, 2024
Summary
Rugulopteryx okamurae, an invasive seaweed, possesses high carbohydrate and fat content, alongside valuable bioactive compounds like polyphenols. This study characterizes its composition, revealing potential for valorization into antioxidant products.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Phycology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Rugulopteryx okamurae (RO) is an invasive brown seaweed causing ecological and economic damage globally.
- Understanding the biochemical composition of invasive species is crucial for potential management and utilization strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize the bioactive composition of Rugulopteryx okamurae.
- To assess its potential for valorization into valuable products, particularly those with antioxidant properties.
Main Methods:
- Proximate analysis for carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and ashes.
- Polysaccharide fractionation (holocellulose, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) and monosaccharide analysis.
- Elemental analysis for essential nutrients and heavy metals.
- Fatty acid profiling using gas chromatography.
- Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for bioactive compounds.
- High-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for polyphenol identification.
- In vitro antioxidant activity assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP).
Main Results:
- RO is rich in carbohydrates (58.7%) and fats (17.1%), with significant amounts of holocellulose (49.2%), cellulose (43.4%), and lignin (18.9%).
- Key monosaccharides include glucose and glucuronic acid. The seaweed contains essential minerals but also toxic heavy metals.
- Palmitic acid is the predominant fatty acid. MAE yielded extracts rich in polyphenols (2.7 mg GAE/g), exhibiting strong antioxidant activity.
- Gallic acid and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant identified polyphenols.
Conclusions:
- Rugulopteryx okamurae has a complex biochemical profile with high polysaccharide and lipid content.
- The seaweed is a source of essential nutrients and bioactive polyphenols with significant antioxidant potential.
- These findings support the valorization of RO, suggesting its use in developing antioxidant products for various applications.
