Investigation of the effect of K. alvarezii on antioxidant enzymes, cell viability and DNA damage in male rats

In recent years, a significant number of novel metabolites with potent pharmacological properties (antioxidant, antitumor, anti-HIV) have been discovered from marine organisms. Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) is a marine alga belonging to order: Gigartinales and family: Solieriaceae. It has been invasive in the Gulf of Mannar since 2000, and has a high content of the steroid phenol. This is the first report on its antioxidant properties using an animal model. This study aimed to explore the antioxidant and antigenotoxic/protective role of K. alvarezii growing in southeast coast of India in the male rat. The findings indicate that an extract of K. alvarezii is not nephrotoxic at the dose levels. The algal antioxidant activity shows similar correlation (89%; R2 = 0.8963) at varying temperature to the known antioxidant. K. alvarezii extracts exhibit significant protective effects against DNA damage induced by H2O2, which might be related to antioxidant activity. In conclusion, our results suggest that long-term daily administration of K. alvarezii extract offers enhanced antioxidant potential and protection against tissue lipid peroxidation and cell damage. Our results support the use of K. alvarezii in the food and pharmaceutical industries.