Parthasarathy V et al., (2016) Int. J. Res. Pharm. Sci., 7(2), 154-156 154 ©JK Welfare & Pharmascope Foundation | International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of brown Seaweed Sargassum wightii Balachandran P, Anson S Maroky, Ajay Kumar T.V, Parthasarathy V* Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar -608002, India ABSTRACT The big stores for the favorable algae are the Seas and Oceans and the study of seaweeds is called as phycology or ecology. The identification and isolation of new substances are growing from the source of marine organisms. The seaweeds live in salty water and are eukaryotic organisms considered as a good source of bioactive natural prod- ucts. The present study investigated to explore the phytochemical constituents of the seaweed Sargassum wightii (Brown algae). The brown marine algae Sargassum wightii ďeloŶgs to the faŵilLJ PhaeophLJĐeae. EthaŶol was used as a solvent system for the preparation of the extract of Sargassum wightii. The ethanolic extracts of Sargas- sum Wightii were undergone to the qualitatively phytochemical test by means of typical measures. Phytochemical analysis shows the presence of alkaloids, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, and carbohydrates, whereas proteins, free amino acids and saponins were found to be absent. The results of the study may lead a foundation for the further studies on this marine algae Sargassum wightii. Keywords: Sargassum wightii; seaweed; ethanol; alkaloids; glycosides; tannins and flavonoids. INTRODUCTION Nature has turned into the cause for the medicinal agents for about yard of years and exciting amounts of recent drugs have been isolated from natural sources; and most of the isolated bioactive compounds were obtained from the support of the agents found in tradi- tional medicine (Abraham J et al, 2012). Seaweeds are macrophytic marine algae and are particularly wealthy and at various sources of structurally unique natural products. They grow in salty water and are the source of wild and as well as cultivated (Tong-Jen Fu et al, 1999). They are present as a huge amount in shallow coastal waters (Antonisamy, JM et al, 2012). Also, they offer an extensive choice of curative possibilities in both internal and as well as external. Intake of raw and dried seaweeds can give way to many healing benefits. Most of the human illness in humans can be resolved by regularly with the simple addition of seaweeds to their respective diets. Based on epidemiological and natural data, the usage of seaweeds is considered as a significant aspect showing a relatively low breast can- cer rates statement in Japan (R. Zakir, 2006). The ma- rine algae and the isolated seaweed have possible benefit to both healthy and improve the food accepta- bility, also offer exciting potential as a constituent in the expansion of latest foodstuff products (Dhargalkar VK et al, 2005). The seaweeds like Ulva lactuca, Ulva reticulata, Enteromorpha intestinalis, Acanthophora spicefera, Gracilaria edulis, Padina tetrastomatica and Sargassum wightii are reported and are highly concen- trated in the coastal belt of the Gulf of Mannar, Rameshwaram to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. They are found throughout the year and can be stored for long duration in dry form. Also Seaweeds do not absorb toxic amounts of any element. It is a toxin free and also provides hundreds of organic compounds (Dos Santos SC et al, 2014). Seaweeds are whispered as a spring of bioactive compounds and they have the capacity to produce a huge diversity of derived metabolites char- acterized by a wide range of biological activities (P. Rajasulochana et al, 2009). The present study was car- ried out to provide essential phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract of Sargassum wightii. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of samples The ďƌowŶ ŵaƌiŶe algae Sargassum wightii was Đol- lected from the Bay of Bengal during the month of Au- gust, 2014 by hand picking. It belongs to the family PhaeophLJĐeae was ideŶtified fƌoŵ MaŶdaďaŵ, Rameswaram region of Tamil Nadu, India. The sample was identified and authenticated by Dr. K. Sivakumar, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India and the voucher speci- men (No. SW/PB/15) was prepared and preserved in the Department of Botany, Annamalai University for future studies and reference. www.ijrps.pharmascope.org ISSN: 0975-7538 Research Article * Corresponding Author Email: vapartha@yahoo.com Conta ct: +91-9443512724 Received on: 05-01-2016 Revised on: 24-03-2016 Accepted on: 28-03-2016