Algal documentation and Phytochemical studies of red algae Gracilaria corticata of Manapad Coast, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Algal source from Manapad coast, Tamil Nadu was surveyed during summer 2013 and documented in the form of herbaria. About 51% members were recorded from Rhodophyceae followed by 27% of Phaeophyceae and 22% of Chlorophyceae respectively. Internal anatomy of Gracilaria corticata was studied under electron microscopic (SEM) analysis with reference to thallus cell wall, elemental composition by EDAX and IR - spectral analysis (FTIR) were studied. Phytochemical screening was carried out by G. corticata, by cooling percolation extraction; using different solvents like methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether and acetone. The present study revealed that most of the bioactive components like alkaloids, catechin, flavonoids, phenol, quinones, steroids, tannins, glycosides, amino acid, sugar and xanthoprotein were present in all the extracts of G. corticata.