Characterization of Alginates of Sargassum from the Archipelago of Guadeloupe
Résumé
Sargassum is a genus of brown algae that causes a major impact to marine ecosystems.
Although accumulation of this invasive seaweed is considered an environmental problem, Sargassum
can also be resource of valuable molecules such as alginates. Alginates are polysaccharides extracted
from the cell walls of brown seaweeds with multiple applications in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals,
and biotechnology. In this study, we explored four different extraction protocols to isolate alginates
from Sargassum from the archipelago of Guadeloupe. H-NMR, FTIR, and SEM were carried out to
characterize isolated samples and describe their chemical and morphological properties. Antioxidant
capacity of the isolated alginates was tested in the sample. FRAP assay showed free radical scavenging
activity, and cell viability assay showed that alginates keep protective capacity against oxidative stress
in cell cultures. In sum, the isolation methods used in this study are effective extractive methods
to obtain alginates from Sargassum, which highlight this seaweed as a potential source of bioactive
compounds that may be exploited for industrial and biomedical purposes.