Characterization and evaluating of antioxidant and antihypertensive properties of green alga (Codium fragile) from the coast of Sfax

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the composition and the antioxidant activity of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the green algae (Codium fragile) collected from Sfax (Tunisia) during spring 2013. Alga was cleaned from epiphytes, washed; air dried and powdered to determinate the mineral, polyphenol, flavonoids and tannin content. The antioxidant activity of the algal extracts was determined using the procedures of total antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging (DPPH-decolorization method) and ABTS radical-scavenging activity. According to the results, it was noted that this green alga has an important carbohydrate content, followed by lipids and proteins with a higher content in polyphenol, flavonoid and low levels of tannins in the three extracts of the seaweed with an interesting antioxidant in vitro capacity showed at the methanol extract. The tested extract showed excellent interfacial concentration-dependent properties. Overall, the results suggested that Codium fragile is promising source of natural antioxidants and ACE inhibitory agents and could, therefore, be used as alternative additives pharmaceutical preparations.