Seaweeds are considered to be a rich source of biologically
active substances like antioxidants, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory,
and anticoagulant agents. There is some evidence
that seaweeds contain compounds with a relatively high antioxidant
and anti-proliferative activity. Seaweeds are low in
fats, but contain vitamins and bioactive compounds, like
terpenoids and sulfated polysaccharides, the latter being apotential natural antioxidant not found in land plants [35].
Sulfated polysaccharides from marine algae are known to
exhibit many biological and physiological activities, including
anticoagulant, anti-hyperlipidemic, antiviral, anti-tumor
and antioxidant activities [36-39]Previous studies have indicated
that the polysaccharide bioactivities depend on the
degree and position of sulfation [40-41]. The protein content of
the S. sargassum sulfated polysaccharide was (0.66 ± 0.81) %.
This is similar to the results of Tatiana et al [42] which showed
that the protein content of the polysaccharide from brown
seaweed Fucus evanescens was less than 2%. Local variation
in salinity has also shown to be an important factor in the
biological uptake of a number of elements [4The reducing properties are generally associated with the
presence of reduction reactions which are reported to be terminators
of free radical chain reactions by donation of a hydrogen
atom. In most cases, irrespective of the stage in the
oxidative chain in which the antioxidant action is assessed,
most non–enzymatic anti-oxidative activity is mediated by
redox reactions [45-46].The DPPH assay was used to test the ability of the antioxidative
compounds functioning as proton radical scavengers
or hydrogen donors [47]. Many species of seaweed possess
scavenging ability for hydrogen peroxide [48-49]. It can
cross membranes and may slowly oxidize a number of compounds.
Hydrogen peroxide itself is not very reactive, but
sometimes it can be toxic to cells because of the rise in the
hydroxyl radicals in the cells [50].
There are some reports in the literature of the antioxidant
capacity of algae. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of seaweeds
have been evaluated for antioxidant activity by lipoxygenase
inhibition, DPPH assay, and deoxyribose assays
[51-52]. Recently, several marine alginate derivatives, sulfated
fucoidans from the brown seaweed Laminaria japonica,
agar-like sulfated galactans from the red seaweed Nori, and
sulfated polysaccharides from Fucus vesiculosus, have been
reported to have antioxidant activity [53-55].Synthetic drugs are notably more hazardous, and their
continuous use has affected the ecosystem to a considerable