Phytochemical profiling and In vitro Biological activities of Haloplegma duperreyi Mont.-a Red Seaweed from Gulf of Mannar
S. Narmatha1 and S. Kavitha2*
1,2Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous) Chennai - 600008 (India) Affiliated to the University of Madras, Chennai- 600 008 (India) *Corresponding author : kavitha_s@ethirajcollege.edu.in
ABSTRACT
The exploration of marine resources, particularly seaweeds, for new bioactive compounds is essential in the fight against lifethreatening diseases worldwide. Red seaweeds, in particular, have garnered significant attention from the pharmaceutical industry due to their potential to yield novel compounds that can be developed into effective treatments for cancer and microbial infections. This study presents, for the first time, a comprehensive phytochemical analysis and evaluation of the biological activities of the methanolic extract of Haloplegma duperreyi Mont., a red seaweed from the Gulf of Mannar. GC-MS analysis of the extract identified a total of twelve phytocompounds in varying ratios. The findings revealed that the methanolic extract of the seaweed contains three major bioactive compounds such as flavones, 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester, and Methyl eicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoate which are known to be the leading phytocompounds that play a significant role in antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The antibacterial activity assay with the extract confirmed the remarkable growth-inhibitory potential of Haloplegma duperreyi against human infectious pathogens. Additionally, the DPPH radical scavenging and phosphomolybdenum reduction assays suggested that the methanolic extract has significant antioxidant activity within a short duration. In summary, the in vitro experiments highlight Haloplegma duperreyi as a highly promising marine resource with significant potential for the development of effective drugs and innovative biomedical applications.