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Assessment of the spatial variability of phenolic contents and associated bioactivities in the invasive alga Sargassum muticum sampled along its European range from Norway to Portugal

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Abstract

Sargassum muticum, an invasive brown macroalga presently distributed along European Atlantic coasts from southern Portugal to the south coast of Norway, was studied on a large geographical scale for its production of phenolic compounds with potential industrial applications and their chemical and biological activities. S. muticum can produce high biomass in Europe, which could be exploited to supply such compounds. S. muticum was collected in Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland and Norway (three sites/country) to examine the effect of the latitudinal cline and related environmental factors. Assays focused particularly on polyphenols and their activities. Crude acetone–water extracts were purified using solid phase extraction (SPE) and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of crude extracts and semi-purified fractions measured. Total phenolic content was assessed by colorimetric Folin–Ciocalteu assay and reactive oxygen species activities by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, reducing power, β-carotene bleaching method and xanthine oxidase assay. Antibacterial activities were tested on terrestrial and marine strains to evaluate potential use in biomedical and aquaculture fields. Purified active phlorotannins, isolated by SPE, were identified using NMR. Phenolic contents differ clearly among countries and among sites within countries. Quality did not change between countries, however, although there were some slight differences in phlorethol type. Additionally, some fractions, especially from the extreme north and south, were very active. We discuss this in relation to environmental conditions and the interest of these compounds. S. muticum represents a potential natural source of bioactive compounds and its collection could offer an interesting opportunity for the future management of this species in Europe.

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Acknowledgments

This study is part of the PhD. thesis work carried out by the first author at the Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Environnement Marin (LEMAR UMR 6539), which is part of the IUEM (UBO-UEB). It was supported by the Ministère de l’Education Nationale, de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche (UBO grant to the first author). We would like to thank Helen McCombie-Boudry of the Bureau de Traduction de l'Université (BTU) of the University of Western Brittany, Brest, France for her fruitful assistance with the improvement of the English in this article. This study is related to two research projects: BIOTECMAR (Interreg IVB, 2009-2011) and INVASIVES (Era-net, 2012-2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LEMAR (UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD Ifremer)–Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM)Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), Technopôle Brest-Iroise, 29280, Plouzané, France

    A. Tanniou, E. Serrano Leon, N. Poupart, F. Guerard & V. Stiger-Pouvreau

  2. Laboratoire GEPEA, CRTT, GEPEA (UMR CNRS 6144)-Université de Nantes, 44602, Saint-Nazaire, France

    L. Vandanjon

  3. Université de Bretagne-Sud, 56321, Lorient, France

    L. Vandanjon

  4. CETMAR, 36208, Bouzas-Vigo, Spain

    M. Incera

  5. Institute of Marine Research, 5817, Bergen, Norway

    V. Husa

  6. LEMAR (UMR 6539 CNRS UBO Ifremer IRD)-Ifremer, Centre de Brest, 29280, Plouzané, France

    J. Le Grand & J.-L. Nicolas

  7. Service RMN-RPE, UFR Sciences et techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), Avenue Le Gorgeu, 29200, Brest, France

    N. Kervarec

  8. CCMAR-University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    A. Engelen

  9. Irish Seaweed Research Group, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    R. Walsh

  10. Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines, EA3884, IUEM, Université de Bretagne-Sud (UBS), 56000, Vannes, France

    N. Bourgougnon

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  1. A. Tanniou
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  2. L. Vandanjon
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  3. M. Incera
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  4. E. Serrano Leon
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  6. J. Le Grand
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  7. J.-L. Nicolas
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  8. N. Poupart
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  9. N. Kervarec
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  10. A. Engelen
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  11. R. Walsh
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  12. F. Guerard
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  13. N. Bourgougnon
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  14. V. Stiger-Pouvreau
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Correspondence to A. Tanniou.

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Tanniou, A., Vandanjon, L., Incera, M. et al. Assessment of the spatial variability of phenolic contents and associated bioactivities in the invasive alga Sargassum muticum sampled along its European range from Norway to Portugal. J Appl Phycol 26, 1215–1230 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0198-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0198-x

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