Antioxidant Properties
of Ethanol Extracts from Chlorella sorokiniana and Scenedesmus quadricauda in the
Ca Cam River, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Gia-Hang, Nguyen Tran Thuy Thanh-Mai, Le Pham Dan-Khanh and Nguyen My
Phi-Long
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 29(5); 36-45;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/295rjce036045; (2025)
Abstract
Microalgae from the Chlorophyta group have garnered attention for their potential
as sustainable sources of bioactive compounds applicable in the food, biostimulant
and pharmaceutical sectors. This investigation focused on Chlorella sorokiniana
and Scenedesmus quadricauda, both isolated from the Ca Cam River in Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam. The main objectives were to extract and characterize chlorophyll
a and b, carotenoids and phycocyanin and to evaluate their total antioxidant capacity.
Ultrasound treatment was used to disrupt the microalgal cells followed by extraction
with various solvents. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured using
the DPPH assay. Chlorella sorokiniana showed higher relative humidity (86.61 ± 2.11%)
and contained significantly more pigments than Scenedesmus quadricauda (79.67 ±
0.52%) (p = 0.044).
Specifically, Chlorella sorokiniana had a higher chlorophyll a content (1,630 ±
88.63 μg/g) compared to Scenedesmus quadricauda (1,310 ± 108.25 μg/g) (p = 0.032).
At low concentrations (110-130 mg/μL), the antioxidant inhibition of these strains
ranged from 49-52% (p < 0.001). The highest antioxidant capacity in Chlorella sorokiniana
was 52%, equivalent to 1.038 μg of vitamin C, while Scenedesmus quadricauda exhibited
approximately 43%, equivalent to 1.08 μg of vitamin C.
