Seasonal variation of enzyme activity and stress metabolites in eight benthic macro algae with fluctuations in salinity of Sunderban estuary, India

Abstract

Seasonal variation of polyphenols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids and enzymes like catalase, peroxidase and acid phosphatase activities of eight marine benthic algae from the tropical mangrove ecosystem of Sunderban with respect to salinity fluctuations had been examined. Average salinity regimes of estuarine water of the ecosystem were 22.47 ± 2.7 ppt, 12.20 ± 2.5 ppt and 16.00 ± 0.8ppt in Pre-monsoon, Monsoon and Post-monsoon respectively. All the algal forms showed considerable variation in their enzymatic activity concentration as well as stress metabolites with respect to changes in salinity pattern. There was consistent decline in acid phosphatase activity in low saline condition. Ascorbic acid ranged between 0.12 mg 100 g^-1 and 0.41 mg 100 g^-1. Concentration of phenol varied within 3.92 to 19.96%. Carotenoid content was found between 31.06 <img src='/image/spc_char/micro.gif' border=0> gg^-1 and 17.36 <img src='/image/spc_char/micro.gif' border=0> gg^-1. Present study elucidates the role of the antioxidant systems of the algae to combat saline stress in natural conditions