Antioxidant Activity of Fresh Water Algae (Lyngbya kützingii and Microspora tumidula) From a Village in Kasur

Aneeza Attique, Uzma Hanif, Ghazala B., Muzammal Abbas, Muhammad Fahad Shakeel, Ifra Aslam, Misha Arshad, Shumaila Rasheed

Abstract: Free radicals interfere with the equilibrium of cells and tissues, which can lead to cancer. Fresh water algae such as Microspora tumidula and Lyngbya kützingii is a great source of secondary antioxidant metabolites. These metabolites most likely work well in the therapy of cancer. Algae exhibit huge variety of pigments not only chlorophyll, Carotenoids, phycobilins, and xanthophylls are the most prevalent of these. In the beginning, the medicinal effect of microalgae biomass was studied when it was used as pills, powder, and water additives. More and more studies in recent years have focused on finding and using useful medicinal components in algae. Aim of this study to evaluate the antioxidant role of algae in pharmaceutical industries. In the current investigation, the algal extracts were prepared by using three solvents methanol, chloroform and n-hexane to know about antioxidant potential of algae of specific area. To evaluate the antioxidant activity different test were performed such as DPPH, TAA, TPC, FRAP and MC. In Microspora tumidula 15.16% DPPH highest value was shown by methanolic extract. In FRAP Lyngbya kützingii showed maximum value in methanolic extract 64 µM Trolox mg^-1. While the highest value of TPC by Lyngbya kützingii was shown in chloroform extracts 37.5µg GAE /mg. The results of total antioxidant activity (TAA) were showed that Lyngbya kützingii and Microspora tumidula both exhibited the highest value 154mg /g and 152mg/g respectively in methanolic extract. The result of metal chelating test showed highest value in chloroform extract 10.44% by Lyngbya kützingii. So both these algal species showed antioxidant potential.