Recent evidence suggests that both iodine and iodide
act as antioxidants inLaminaria(brown kelp) where they associate
with other biological molecules and are bound in the form of
iodocarbons (Kupper et al., 2008). Various environmental and
endogenous processes can lead to the release of free radicals in
algae and larval cells alike. For example, constant exposure to UV
radiation or toxins can have detrimental physiological effects on
cellular functions via the release of such free radicals (reviewed
in Vincent and Roy, 1993).