E#ects of Extracts from Tropical Seaweeds on DPPH Radicals and Caco-, Cells Treated with Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract

Edible seaweeds were collected from Indonesia, a tropical country that does not show seasonal variations in temperature, to evaluate their health-related activities. Ethanol and acetone extracts were prepared from - green and - brown algae. The ethanol and acetone extracts from Padina australis showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity. These extracts also had the highest concentrations of total phenol and flavonoid. Both the ethanol and acetone extracts of the 0 Indonesian seaweeds decreased Caco-, cell viability when such cells were treated with 0** mM hydrogen peroxide. However, when Caco-, cells were treated with 1** or 2** mM hydrogen peroxide, the ethanol and acetone extracts from P. australis increased cell viability significantly more than those from the other seaweeds. This study indicates that organic extracts of seaweed have useful health-related functions.