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New applications for Gelidium corneum: Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity within a biorefinery concept
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
There are more than four hundred endogenous seaweeds that occur in Portugal, and red seaweeds
(Rhodophyta) are the most abundant. Among these, Gelidium corneum, common in the Atlantic coast of
Portugal, is currently being collected in the wild, in S. Martinho do Porto, exclusively for the extraction
of agar. During the summer season this species is harvested from the bottom of the ocean, dried and
sold, representing an important economic local activity. Yet, besides agar, this species is important for its
bioactivities, namely for its antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities, thus most of the biomass is currently
being disregarded as an important marine resource. Therefore, to further research the potential of G.
corneum as a source of bioactive compounds, the biomass was seasonally harvested and characterized
(protein, ash, moisture), and different extract were made (aqueous and ethanolic). These extracts were
analyzed for the antioxidant potential (DDPH, ABTS, TPC and FRAP), and for antimicrobial capacity
(against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Staphylococcus
epidermidis). Preliminary results show that there are seasonal variations in the chemical composition of
the biomass. Extracts tested also show interesting free radical scavenging capacity and antimicrobial
activity against some of the strains tested. The attained results demonstrate that the biorefinery concept
should be implemented to the agar industry, valuing the seaweeds’ biomass so to allow its use in other
industries, such as textiles or cosmetics.
Description
This study had the support of FCT UIDB/04292/2020 and Mar2020 project LIMO DO CAIS
-MAR-04.03.01-FEAMP-0101
Keywords
Gelidium corneum Antioxidant Antimicrobial
Citation
Mouga, T., Cavaco, M., Duarte, A., Correia, A.P., Freitas, M.V., Bernardino, S., & Afonso, C. (2021, March 22-26). New applications for Gelidium corneum: antimicrobial and antioxidant activity with a biorefinery concept [Abstract]. In Books of abstracts of the 12th International Phycological Congress - IPC2021, Puerto Varas, Chile. DOI: 10.1080/00318884.2021.1922050