Bioactive potential of freshwater Spirogyra species: Comparative antioxidant and antifungal activity

Hamna Sohail; Ghazala Yasmeen Butt

EN TR

Bioactive potential of freshwater Spirogyra species: Comparative antioxidant and antifungal activity

Abstract

Freshwater green algae, particularly Spirogyra sp., is a potential source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological relevance. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of Spirogyra sp. collected from Jilani Park Racecourse, Lahore, Pakistan. Methanolic and chloroform extracts were analysed using total antioxidant activity (TAA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC), and metal chelating (MC) assays. Antifungal activity was assessed against Aspergillus niger Tiegh and Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill., using fluconazole as a positive control. Methanolic extracts exhibited significantly higher TAA, TPC and MC activities compared to chloroform extracts, whereas chloroform extracts showed markedly higher FRAP values. Differences between methanolic and chloroform extracts were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Both extracts demonstrated antifungal activity; methanolic extracts showed stronger initial inhibition, whereas chloroform extracts maintained sustained inhibitory effects over 48 h. Overall, Spirogyra sp. exhibited notable antioxidant and antifungal potential. These findings provide evidence of its solvent-dependent bioactive properties and support further in-depth investigations to explore its potential applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnological formulations.

Keywords

Tatlı su Spirogyra türlerinin biyoaktif potansiyeli: Karşılaştırmalı antioksidan ve antifungal aktivite

Öz

Tatlısu yeşil algleri, özellikle Spirogyra sp., farmakolojik öneme sahip biyoaktif bileşiklerin potansiyel bir kaynağıdır. Bu çalışma, Pakistan'ın Lahor şehrindeki Jilani Park Hipodromu'ndan toplanan Spirogyra sp.'nin antioksidan ve antifungal aktivitelerini değerlendirmiştir. Metanolik ve kloroform özütleri, toplam antioksidan aktivite (TAA), demir indirgeyici antioksidan güç (FRAP), toplam fenolik içerik (TPC) ve metal şelatlama (MC) testleri kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Antifungal aktivite, pozitif kontrol olarak flukonazol kullanılarak Aspergillus niger Tiegh ve Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Vuill.'e karşı değerlendirilmiştir. Metanolik özütler, kloroform özütlerine kıyasla önemli ölçüde daha yüksek TAA, TPC ve MC aktiviteleri sergilerken, kloroform özütleri belirgin şekilde daha yüksek FRAP değerleri göstermiştir. Metanolik ve kloroform özütleri arasındaki farklılıklar istatistiksel olarak anlamlıdır (p < 0.0001). Her iki özüt de antifungal aktivite göstermiştir; metanolik özütler daha güçlü başlangıç inhibisyonu gösterirken, kloroform özütleri 48 saat boyunca sürekli inhibitör etkilerini korumuştur. Genel olarak, Spirogyra sp. önemli antioksidan ve antifungal potansiyel sergilemiştir. Bu bulgular, çözücüye bağlı biyoaktif özelliklerine dair kanıt sağlamakta ve farmasötik, nutrasötik ve biyoteknolojik formülasyonlardaki potansiyel uygulamalarını araştırmak için daha derinlemesine araştırmaları desteklemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Supporting Institution

This research is self-funded by the corresponding author and has not received a specific grant, fund or other support from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

This article does not contain any human or animal studies performed by any authors. No specific ethical approval was necessary for this study.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank Botany Department, Government College University, Lahore, for providing laboratory facilities.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Aquaculture

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hamna Sohail ^*
0009-0004-7048-0457
Pakistan

Ghazala Yasmeen Butt
0000-0001-7382-7613
Pakistan

Publication Date

April 16, 2026

Submission Date

December 27, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 43 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA59UA89CZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Sohail, H., & Butt, G. Y. (2026). Bioactive potential of freshwater Spirogyra species: Comparative antioxidant and antifungal activity. Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 43(2), 145-151. https://izlik.org/JA59UA89CZ