Volume 2 • Issue 1 • 1000108 Vitam Trace Elem ISSN: 2167-0390, an open access journal Vitamins & Trace Elements Zenteno-Savín et al., Vitam Trace Elem 2013, 2:1 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0390.1000108 Research Article Open Access Antioxidant Substances and Trace Element Content in Macroalgae from a Subtropical Lagoon in the West Coast of the Baja California Peninsula Paola A. Tenorio Rodriguez 1 , LC Méndez-Rodríguez 1 , E Serviere-Zaragoza 2 ,T O´Hara 3 and T Zenteno-Savín 1 * 1 Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, México 2 Ecología Pesquera, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, México 3 Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, USA Abstract Macroalgae play an important role in the ecology of the marine environment. They form the base of the food webs, and represent the major food source for a variety of organisms. In order to assess their potential nutritional value, the antioxidant and trace element content (vitamin C, total polyphenols, zinc, iron, cooper, selenium, cadmium and lead) of eight macroalgae species, three red (Hypnea spinella, Gracilaria textorii and G. vermicullophyla), four green (Caulerpa sertularioides, Codium simulans, C. amplivesiculatum and Ulva lactuca) and one brown (Dictyota labellata) macroalgae, were determined. The concentration ranges found were as follows: zinc, 19.1-7.4; iron, 638.4-89.2; copper, 3.9-0.9; selenium, 0.32-10; cadmium, 4.33-0.02, and lead 8.8-0.39 mg kg -1 dry weight. Green macroalgae showed higher concentrations of iron and zinc. Total polyphenol content ranged from 29.6 to 70.3 mg 100 g -1 dry weight; brown macroalgae showed higher polyphenol concentration. C. simulans and C. amplivesiculatum had higher vitamin C content (3.16 ± 0.52 mg g -1 and 6.08 ± 0.69 mg g -1 dry weight, respectively) than the other species. Comparison with several commonly consumed vegetables and fruits suggest that these macroalgae are likely a good alternative source of antioxidants and micronutrients for consumers. *Corresponding author: T Zenteno-Savín, Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C., Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23096, Mexico, E-mail: tzenteno04@cibnor.mx Received November 12, 2012; Accepted November 24, 2012; Published November 26, 2012 Citation: Tenorio-Rodríguez PA, Méndez-Rodríguez LC, Serviere-Zaragoza E, O´Hara T, Zenteno-Savín T (2013) Antioxidant Substances and Trace Element Content in Macroalgae from a Subtropical Lagoon in the West Coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Vitam Trace Elem 2:108. doi:10.4172/2167-0390.1000108 Copyright: © 2013 Zenteno-Savín T, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Antioxidants; Macroalgae; Micronutrients; Polyphenols; Trace elements; Vitamin C Abbreviations: ROS: Reactive oxygen species; LDL: Low density lipoproteins; O 2 •− : Superoxide radical; H 2 O 2 : Hydrogen peroxide; OH • : Hydroxyl radical; 1 O 2 : Singlet oxygen; Cu: Copper; Fe: Iron; Pb: Lead; Cd: Cadmium; Zn: Zinc; Se: Selenium; GAE: Gallic acid equivalents; FAO/WHO: Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization; RNI: Recommended nutrient intake Introduction In many countries, fresh marine macroalgae are used as food by coastal communities, and considered as a traditional food item due to their nutritional value and characteristic taste [1-3]. Macroalgae are valuable sources of proteins, polysaccharides, and iber; but they are also rich in antioxidants and micronutrients, such as vitamins and trace elements [4-6]. Antioxidant vitamins and trace elements are usually obtained from the diet, since some organisms are unable to synthesize them. he beneicial efects of antioxidants are due to their capacity to scavenge and neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) [7]. An excessive ROS production and/or low antioxidant defense can cause oxidative damage to biomolecules, such as proteins, lipids and DNA [8,9]. Antioxidants may reduce ROS production by scavenging free radicals through various mechanisms [7,10]. Some trace elements contribute to the function of endogenous antioxidant enzymes by acting as cofactors [11,12]. Most polyphenols can act as chain breakers or radical scavengers and prevent the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) [12,13]. Vitamin C is a scavenger against superoxide radical (O 2 •− ), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), hydroxyl radical (OH • ), and singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), which would otherwise react to form lipid peroxides; vitamin C also reduces the tocopheroxyl radical formed by interaction of α-tocopherol with lipid peroxides in cell membranes [7,14]. his demonstrates the wide variety of reactive intermediates vitamin C interacts with, to maintain the function of cellular components. Marine macroalgae are a potentially good source of micronutrients and may be beneicial for human health, given their reportedly high vitamin and trace element content [1,15,16]. Most published studies on macroalgae are focused on ecological aspects and chemical composition (protein, carbohydrate, ash and calories). However, little is known about macroalgae antioxidant vitamins and micronutrient composition [5,17,18]. he objective of this study was to assess the antioxidant vitamin and trace element content of eight macroalgae species, from a subtropical and unpolluted lagoon in the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. Lead and cadmium concentrations were also assessed, given their toxicological potential. his information may be useful in the search for alternative and supplementary food items in the Baja California peninsula. Materials and Methods Eight species of macroalgae belonging to the Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Ochrophyta Pheaophyceae divisions were collected from Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico (24 ° 15´N and 25 ° 20´N and 111 ° 30´W and 112 ° 15’ W). Bahia Magdalena is a shallow lagoon with high productivity resulting from seasonal marine upwelling [19]. Macroalgae were collected in November of 2009, February, April and June of 2010. Samples were carried on ice, stored in black bags to the laboratory, where macroalgae were washed with iltered, cold seawater to remove all epiphytes and other debris. he samples used for trace element analyses were dried in an oven at 60 ° C for 48 h. he dried samples were then ground into a ine powder using a cofee grinder, and stored until analyzed. Dried samples destined for copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) analyses were digested in