Abstract

Efren Tangon*, Elvinia R Alivio, Jocelyn A. Pajiji and Kingpu O. Ajik

ABSTRACT

The total flavonoids and total phenolics contents are important parameters of the antioxidant that inhibit oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen, peroxides, or free radicals. The total flavonoids and total phenolics contents and antioxidant activities of the seagrasses Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii collected from Go-soon, Carmen, Agusan Del Norte, Philipines were determined using Aluminum Chloride complex forming assay for the total flavonoid content, Folin-Ciocalteu reagents with analytic grade gallic acid as the standard for the total phenolic contents and the antioxidant activities were determined using DPPH and ABTS. The results showed that ethyl acetate extract of Thalassia hemprichii had the highest phenolics and flavonoids contents which values were 0.078 mgGA/g and 0.454 mg Q/g, followed by Enhalus acoroides which values were 0.037 mgGA/g and 0.096 mg Q/g. The strongest free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) of the extracts were recorded by Thalassia hemprichii followed by Enhalus acoroides which values were 0.006 and 0.005 mg trolox/g respectively. The results of the radical cation decolorization power (ABTS) showed Thalassia hemprichii 0.252 mg trolox/g and Enhalus acoroides 0.005 mg trolox/g. The antioxidant activity determined by DPPH and ABTS demonstrated a strong linear relationship with the phenolics and flavonoids. The results suggested that the seagrasses have strong antioxidant potential and could be a source of natural antioxidant compounds.