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Marine resources in the recent years have attracted attention in the search for bioactive compounds to
develop new drugs and healthy foods. In particular, seaweeds are a very important and commercially
valuable resource for food, fodder, soil conditioners and pharmaceuticals thus this study aims to evaluate
the antioxidant activity of seaweeds. Seaweeds belong to a group of plants known as algae. Seaweeds are
classified as Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta or Chlorophyta depending on their nutrient and chemical
composition. Like other plants, seaweeds contain various inorganic and organic substances which can
benefit human health. Ten types of seaweeds namely Cymodeace rotundata, Acanthopora spicifera, Ulva
lactuca, Ulva reticulate, Turbinaria conoides, Gracillaria edulis, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracillaria
crassa, Gracillaria foliifera and Cymodeace serrulata were used in the study. The extracts were prepared
with Methanol and petroleum ether. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to
determine antioxidant properties of seaweeds by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 517 nm. In
methanol extract extract Cymodeace rotundata, Gracillaria crassa and Cymodeace serrulata showed the
highest total antioxidant activity of compared with other samples. Ulva lactuca exhibited the highest
antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in petroleum ether extract.
Keywords: DPPH, Sea weeds/Marine Algae, Antioxidant Compounds, Solvent Extracts.