Metabolomic Profiling of Bioactive Seaweeds of Chosen South Indian Peninsular Coast
Keywords:
Seaweeds, Metabolomic profiling, Bioactive compounds, Antioxidant activity, Marine natural products, NutraceuticalsAbstract
Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) from the South Indian peninsular coast represent a rich and underexplored source of bioactive metabolites with significant ecological and biotechnological importance. Coastal regions such as the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay provide favorable environmental conditions that support diverse seaweed flora, including red, brown, and green algae. This study focuses on the metabolomic profiling of selected seaweeds to identify and characterize their primary and secondary metabolites using advanced analytical techniques such as GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. The profiling revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, fatty acids, terpenoids, pigments, and sulfated polysaccharides. These metabolites are associated with a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Multivariate statistical analyses further enabled the differentiation of species based on their metabolite composition and bioactivity. The findings highlight the immense potential of South Indian seaweeds as sources of novel compounds for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, industrial, and environmental applications. Overall, metabolomic approaches provide a comprehensive platform for understanding the chemical diversity and functional significance of marine macroalgae, supporting their sustainable utilization and conservation.
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