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Assessing the chemical composition and bioactivity of
Asparagopsis armata (Rhodophyta)
R. F. Gonçalves, E. Sousa, J. Ferreira, J. Vieira, D. M. Pereira
REQUIMTE/Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Oporto, Oporto,
Portugal. pandrade@ff.up.pt
The discovery of new molecules with interesting biological or technological properties is
actually a priority. Untill recently the search for these compounds was mainly focused on
terrestrial species, but due to the area occupied by oceans and to their particular characteristics,
marine organisms have attracted attention. For this study Asparagopsis armata, a red
macroalgae species, was chosen. Phenolic compounds, organic acids, volatiles, saponins and
alkaloids were determined in the aqueous lyophilized extract of the species, by chemical and
chromatographic (HPLC-DAD, HPLC-UV and HS-SPME/GC-MS) procedures.
Five organic acids (oxalic, ketoglutaric, malic, quinic and succinic acid) and 26 volatile
constituents (which included aldehydes, norisoprenoids and terpenes, among others) were
determined. No phenolic compound or alkaloid was noticed, but the presence of saponins was
confirmed.
In order to access its biological potential, antioxidant capacity was evaluated by
spectrophotometric microassays. No activity was found against DPPH, but a concentrationdependent
protective effect was observed against superoxide (IC25 = 329 µg/ml) and nitric
oxide (IC25 = 115 µg/ml) radicals (Fig. 1).
Scavenging (%)
Concentration (mg/mL)
Fig. 1. Scavenging ability of the aqueous lyophilized extract of Asparagopsis armata against
superoxide radical (A) and nitric oxide (B). Results show mean ± standard error of three
determinations.
Acknowledgments: To Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for financial support (PTDC/AGR-
AAM/64150/2006).
This work was developed within the optional curricular unit “Bioactivity of Natural Matrices” of the 5 th
year of the Master Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Oporto, under the responsibility of Paula Andrade and Patrícia Valentão.
280 3 rd meeting of young researchers at UP
A
Scavenging (%)
Concentration (mg/mL)
B