Identification of Antioxidant Activity by Different Methods of a Freshwater Alga (Microspora sp.) Collected From a High Mountain Lake

Abstract

Algae contain a large amount of biological active compounds functioning as antioxidant,antimicrobial and anti-tumour. In the present research, antioxidant activity of freshwateralga Microspora sp. (Chlorophyta) extract prepared in different solvents (methanol,acetonitrile, ethanol, acetone and ethyl acetate) was determined with three differentmethods; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), Iron (III) Reduction / AntioxidantPower (FRAP) Assay and Copper (II) Reductive Antioxidant Activity (CUPRAC). Thealga samples collected from the high mountain lake (2733 m above sea level) localized inGümüşhane province of Turkey. The algal extracts prepared in different solvents showedantioxidant activity. The values of DPPH• varied from 8.97% (in acetonitrile extract) to31.15% (in methanol extract). As in the DPPH• method, the lowest and highest values inthe FRAP method were measured based on μM TEAC (Trolox Equivalent AntioxidantCapacity) in methanol and acetonitrile extracts as 60.303 μM and 359.394 μM respectively.While the lowest value of CUPRAC test was determined in acetonitrile extract (0.041 μMTEAC ) as in the other tests, highest value was measured in ethanol extract (0.101 μMTEAC ). The values of highest antioxidant activity in both DPPH• and FRAP methodswas measured in the methanol solvent whilst was determined in the ethanol solvent forCUPRAC.