EFFECT OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION SYSTEM ON THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ALGAE

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant activities of five algae including Oedogonium globossum, Pithophora oedogonia, Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum, Scytonema ocellatum and Spirogyra communis and the effect of different solvent (benzene, chloroform, acetone and methanol) used for the extraction of active components from algae. Methods: The five algae were extracted with four different solvents e. g benzene, chloroform, acetone and methanol. The Folin-Ciocalteu procedure was used to estimate the amount of total phenolic content in different extracts of algae. Total flavonoid content was estimated by aluminium chloride colorimetric method. The DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to find out the antioxidant activities of algae under investigation. Results: The total phenolic content varied from 9.80±0.29 to 44.44±2.26 mg/g, 7.26±0.08 to 21.30±0.17 mg/g, 9.82±0.12 to 50.14±0.99 mg/g and 11.51±0.17 to 54.02±0.58 mg/g dry material in the benzene, chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts of the algae respectively. The flavonoid content was found to be the highest in the acetone extract of Scytonema ocellatum (593.81±2.69 mg/g) and flavonol content was found to be the highest in the chloroform extract of Scytonema ocellatum (448.22 ± 4.36 mg/g) whereas least amount of flavonoid present in the benzene extract of Oedogonium globossum 8.91±0.37 and least amount of flavonol was present in the chloroform extract of Spirogyra communis (13.54±1.07 mg/g). The highest DPPH radical scavenging was observed in the methanol extract of Scytonema ocellatum with IC50 = 0.24±0.003 mg dry material. The reducing power of the extracts of the algae was also evaluated as mg AAE (ascorbic acid equivalent)/g dry material. Chloroform extract of Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum showed the highest reducing power 185.56±2.00 mg AAE/g dry materials. Conclusion: Thus it could be suggested that these algae can be utilized as natural antioxidant

Floral diversity and ecology in Kalyani area of Nadia district, West Bengal, India

An assessment of plant diversity was carried out to record different species of flowering plants (Angiosperms) in Kalyani township of Nadia district, West Bengal, India during January, 2014. All together 6 quadrats were laid down, and 30 flowering plant species belonging to 15 families were documented. Voucher specimens were preserved and digitized in departmental phyto-informatics center. Frequency and density varied greatly among the taxa, while many species were not evenly abundant in the study area. Out of total species, 11 species can be used as economic and medicinal plants. There are also some alien invasive species of diverse origin

Impact of Nutrients on Distribution of Micrasterias Sp. In Hooghly Province, West Bengal, India

In the present paper morpho-taxonomic descriptions along with the illustrations of three infraspecific taxa of genus Micrasterias C. Ag. ex Ralfs, analysis of ecological parameters and correlation coefficients between nine limnological parameters as well as the relative abundances of the genus had been described. These three taxa are Micrasterias pinnatifida var. pinnatifida fa. pinnatifida (Kütz.) Ralfs, Micrasterias tropica Nordstedt var. crassa West &amp; West and Micrasterias foliacea var. foliacea Bailey ex Ralfs belonging to the order Zygnematales under the class Chlorophyceae. All these taxa were distributed in ponds (inland water bodies) in Hooghly district, West Bengal, India. The results of analysis of physico-chemical parameters of the ponds water revealed that lower temperature and nutrient status in respect of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N): phosphate (PO43-): potassium (K); higher dissolved oxygen (DO) values and, slight alkaline water prompted their occurrences, growth and diversity. The above said infraspecific taxa are new taxonomic reports from West Bengal, India. The taxonomic study explored the present biodiversity of this genus while the ecological study showed a clear picture of ecological conditions and water quality of the studied water bodies.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTVolume-5, Issue-2, March-May 2016 Pages 36-47</p

Volvox carteri F. Stein-A New Report from West Bengal, India

Abstract In the present paper, a brief description of Volvox carteri F. Stein along with illustration, habitat, limnological parameter, threat, significance, present status and distribution in India had been given. The species belong to the family Sphaerellaceae of the order Volvocales under class of Chlorophyceae. The alga is colonial, spherical and composed of vegetative cells and asexual reproductive bodies (gonidia). Both vegetative cells and gonidia are embedded in mucilaginous matrix. Coenobium is consists of 2500-3000 somatic cells. Most interestingly, when it was found in aquatic bodies, it occurred in great abundance. This alga was noted as green free floating form in the periphery of a pond at Madhusudanpur of Hooghly district in West Bengal. This was sporadic in occurrence in this locality and periodicity was observed from winter to summer. On the basis of published records, it appears to be a new report from West Bengal, India. Limnological study exhibited that the alga grew in moderate alkaline water and there were some organic loads in studied water body because higher COD (chemical oxygen demand), total alkalinity and total hardness values were recorded. Low levels of nutrients in respect of NO3-N (nitrate-nitrogen) and PO4 3-(phosphate) were measured that also supported the growth of this speci