Extraction and Characterization of β-glucan from Ulva rigida and Gracilaria fisheri: A Comparative Study of Two Extraction Methods
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/mjfas.v21n6.4612Keywords:
β-glucan, extraction, seaweeds, Ulva rigida, Gracilaria fisheriAbstract
Ulva rigida and Gracilaria fisheri are very common algae and are considered potential sources of β-glucans. In this study, acid hydrolysis with 0.1 M HCl (Method 1) and alcohol precipitation with CaCl₂-assisted extraction (Method 2) were used to isolate β-glucan from both algae and followed by characterization. The crude extract from U. rigida was whiter than the β-glucan crude from G. fisheri, which had a faint brown color. In comparison to Method 2, Method 1 produced a higher percentage of both algae and contained phenolic compounds (0.32 ± 0.00–1.35 ± 0.04 μg gallic acid/mg sample). It also demonstrating significant antioxidant activities properties via DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power assays. The existence of β-glucan functional groups was established by FT-IR analysis, and the extracts from G. fisheri (both methods) and U. rigida (method 1) have been determined to contain β-glucans by LC-MS. These findings highlight U. rigida and G. fisheri as promising alternative sources of β-glucan for potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The results suggest that acid hydrolysis (Method 1) is a more effective method for extracting β-glucan, resulting in a higher yield while preserving its bioactive properties.
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