International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research Vol.2 (11), pp. 373-378, November 2014
Available online at http://www.journalissues.org/IJAPR/
http://dx.doi.org/10.15739/IJAPR.009
© 2014 Journal Issues ISSN 2350-1561
Original Research Article
Phytochemical constituents and bioscreening activities of
green algae (Ulva Lactuca )
Accepted 30 August, 2014
Dalia F. Abd Elmegeed,
Doaa A. Ghareeb*,
Muhammed Elsayed
and
Muhammad El-Saadani
Biochemistry department,
Faculty of Science, Alexandria
University, Alexandria,
Egypt.
*Corresponding Author
Email: d.ghareeb@yahoo.com
Tel.: +201277291144
This study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical and biological
screening of green algae (Ulva lactuca, UL) crude extract and polysaccharide
(PS), U. lactuca was collected from Abu Kir Beach, Alexandria coast, Egypt.
Phytochemical screening was assessed by chemical analysis, while the
coagulatory effect was assessed by measuring prothrombin time (PT) and
activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). In addition, antioxidant
property was measured in form of reduction in TBRSA formation in liver
homogenate. Finally, the safety of extract was assessed by RBC toxicity test.
Our results showed that, the green algae extract contained alkaloids,
flavonoids and saponins that were 79.58, 2.36 and 0.03 mg/100 g algae dry
weight, respectively, and the concentration of total phenols was 14.223
mg/100g dry algae tissue. The tested extracts showed antioxidant properties
as it inhibited the induction of lipid peroxidation. The U. lactuca crude
extract showed anticoagulation property while PS showed coagulation
behavior. Finally, UL crude extract has non hemolytic effect on the red blood
cells while PS solution has semi hemolytic effect on red blood cells. In
conclusion, the UL extracts as natural product have high antioxidant activity
due to the presence of total phenolic compounds and the coagulatory effect
[assessed by measuring prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial
thromboplastin time (APTT)] may be beneficial in the treatment of some
cardiovascular diseases.
Key words: Ulva lactuca, TBARS, antioxidant, coagulation, anti-inflammatory and
RBC toxicity
Abbreviations: APTT, Activated partial thromboplastin time; BHT, butylated
hydroxytoluen; PS, polysaccharide solution; PT, prothrombin time; TBA,
thiobarbituric acid; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TCA,
trichloroacetic acid; UL, Ulva lactuca.
INTRODUCTION
Nature has provided many things for humankind over the
years, including the tools for the first attempts at
therapeutic intervention (Nakanishi, 1999). The term
natural products is quite commonly understood to refer to
herbs, herbal concoctions, dietary supplements, traditional
Chinese medicine, or alternative medicine (Holt and
Chandra, 2002). However, generally, natural product is a
chemical compound or substances produced by a living