Macro-algae can be cultured in high volumes and would represent an attractive source of potential compounds useful for unconventional drugs able to control new diseases or multiresistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms. Tropical algae have established to supply a really effective antioxidant defence system due to the strong Ultra Violet radiation within the tropical surroundings. Sargassum tenerrimum is a brown marine macro algae (seaweed) used in folk medicine and applied for thousands of years in Asian countries. The present study was aimed to determine the antibacterial activity, biochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of marine macro algae Sargassum tenerrimum from Rameshwaram, Tamilnadu.
Crude extract was prepared using the solvent methanol from S. tenerrimum was evaluated for antibacterial activity by well diffusion method against both Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and B. subtilis) Gram negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia, P. putida and E. coli) by using three different concentrations viz., 25, 50, 75µg/mL. The standard drug as commercial antibiotic Ampicillin. The maximum inhibition of antibacterial activity was observed in B. subtilis (75µg/mL). S. tenerrimum had high content of protein (12.27±0.82 %) followed by 21.93±0.72% Ash, 32.44±1.35 % Carbohydrates and 1.53±0.14 % lipid content. The antioxidant activity was found by means of the Total phenolic content, Total antioxidant (TAA), De-oxyribose radical scavenging activity and DPPH radical scavenging test using different fractions of methanol extract. Result from these methods express that the antioxidant activity of
S. tenerrimum of methanol extract was time and concentration dependent. TPC exhibited higher activity in the methanolic extraction (6.26±0.45 mg GAE/g). TAA of methanolic extract were noted higher activity (0.77±0.17). The Deoxy-ribose radical scavenging activity (3.02±0.02% inhibition) of total methanolic extract and fractions of S. tenerrimum. The results were highest DPPH scavenging activity (1.53±0.44 %) hexane.