Abstract This study aims to evaluate the secondary metabolites, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of four selected seaweeds Padina pavonica, Taonia atomaria, Jania rubens, and Corallina elongata. The maximum value of phenolic content (176.7 ± 6.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g crude extract) and tannin content (26.5 ± 4.3 mg tannic acid equivalents/g crude extract), was shown in the methanol extract of J. rubens and P. pavonica, respectively. While the ethanol extract of T. atomaria recorded the highest values of total flavonoid content (374.1 ±27.4 mg quercetin equivalents/g crude extract) and total saponins content (30.2 ± 0.7 mg cholesterol equivalents/g crude extract, respectively) compared to other seaweeds. Methanol extract of J. rubens and C. elongata exhibited the greatest content of alkaloids (25.8 ± 4.4 and 22.7 ± 2.6 mg/g d wt.). The methanol extract of P. pavonica established the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (55.7% ± 0.1) at 50 μg/mL. Among the selected seaweed extracts, the ethanol extract of T. atomaria demonstrated the maximum α-amylase inhibition capacity (66.3% ± 0.0). Methanol extract of J. rubens and P. pavonica species effectively prevented the hypotonicity-induced haemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner compared with the diclofenac potassium as a standard anti-inflammatory drug. In vitro, the reported results also supported the safety and non-toxicity of the four seaweed extracts on WI-38 cell line at lower concentrations. J. rubens and P. pavonica methanol extracts recorded the highest cell growth inhibition of the HeLa Cancer Cell Lines compared to other seaweed extracts and the standard drug Cisplatin.

Abstract The current study estimated the antioxidant activity and biochemical composition of four seaweeds; Toania atomaria (Phaeophyta), Padina pavonia (Phaeophyta), Jania rubens (Rhodophyta) and Corallina elongate (Rhodophyta). The highest total antioxidant activity was observed with ethanol extract of T. atomaria (44.6 ± 1.6 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g crude extract). Among the four seaweeds, ethanol extract of T. atomaria has recorded the highest value in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay (32.3 ± 0.0 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g crude extract). The uppermost level of carbohydrates was (20.4% ± 0.4 and 19.5% ± 0.7 dry wt.) in P. pavonia and T. atomaria. Proteins were maximum (10.5% ± 0.6 and 8.0% ± 0.0 dry wt.) in P. pavonia and T. atomaria. The results detected that T. atomaria had the largest amounts of lipids (5.92% ± 0.09 dry wt.). The polyunsaturated ω6 essential fatty acids were recorded in T.atomaria, P. pavonia, and J. rubens (11.39%, 8.09%, and 6.28%), and ω3 essential fatty acids were recorded in T. atomaria and P. pavonia (0.65% and 0.97%). The seaweeds are interesting candidates for medicinal, pharmaceutical, and nutritional applications owing to their antioxidant activities, biochemical composition; they are not widespread in the coastal waters of Egypt and has few studies, especially T. atomaria.

Resumo Algas marinhas têm um número crescente de aplicações bem-sucedidas nas indústrias de alimentos, de produtos farmacêuticos e de cosméticos, o que aumenta a importância de se avaliar sua composição química. No presente estudo, três algas marinhas comuns no Egito (Dictyota dichotoma, Turbinaria decurrens e Laurencia obtusa) foram coletadas do Mar Vermelho, Suez, Egito. O perfil químico de cada alga marinha foi estudado como também a atividade antioxidante dos seus extratos. Os resultados indicaram que as quantidades de carboidratos foram maiores que os conteúdos de proteína e lipídeo nas três algas marinhas, com uma riqueza natural em minerais e antioxidantes, além de quantias razoáveis de ácidos graxos monoinsaturados e poli-insaturados, incluindo os ácidos graxos Omega-3 e Omega-6. Todos os aminoácidos essenciais para humanos foram encontrados nas três algas marinhas, com quantias significantes dos ácidos aspártico e glutâmico. Ademais, os resultados obtidos nos ensaios de atividade antioxidante foram de acordo com os conteúdos antioxidantes (fenóis, flavonoides, alcaloides, vitamina C e carotenoides) de cada alga marinha. Das três espécies de algas marinhas estudadas, D. dichotoma apresentou o maior valor devido ao seu conteúdo relativamente alto de proteína, de 7,28 ± 0,25%, ao conteúdo moderado de carboidrato, de 25,35 ± 0,32%, e conteúdos mais altos de pigmentos e antioxidantes. Em conclusão, as três algas marinhas, e especialmente Dictyota dichotoma, têm composições químicas interessantes, cujos valores apresentam perspectivas nutricionais e farmacêuticas.

Abstract Seaweeds have a growing number of successful applications in the food industry, medicine and in the cosmetic industry, which increases the importance of evaluating their chemical composition. In the present study, three common Egyptian seaweeds (Dictyota dichotoma, Turbinaria decurrens and Laurencia obtusa) were collected from the Red Sea coast, Suez, Egypt. The chemical profile of the three seaweeds was studied beside the antioxidant activity of their extracts. The results indicated that the amount of carbohydrate was greater than the protein and lipid contents in the three seaweeds, with a natural richness in minerals and antioxidants besides considerable amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, including Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. All essential amino acids for human were found in the three seaweeds, with significant amounts of aspartic and glutamic acids. Furthermore, the results of the antioxidant activity assays were consistent with the antioxidant contents (phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, vitamin C, carotenoids) of each seaweed. D. dichotoma was the most valuable seaweed of the three species studied, due to its relatively high protein content of 7.28 ± 0.25%, moderate carbohydrate content of 25.35 ± 0.32%, and highest pigment and antioxidant contents. In conclusion, these three seaweeds, especially Dictyota dichotoma, have an interesting chemical composition with a prospective nutritional and pharmaceutical value.