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
Destekleyen Kurum
Etik Beyan
Teşekkür
Kaynakça
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Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Sucul Kültür
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Hamna Sohail
*
0009-0004-7048-0457
Pakistan
Ghazala Yasmeen Butt
0000-0001-7382-7613
Pakistan
Yayımlanma Tarihi
16 Nisan 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
27 Aralık 2025
Kabul Tarihi
24 Mart 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 43 Sayı: 2