Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activities of pepsin extract of cuttlefish <i>(Sepia pharaonis) </i>from Persian Gulf

Abstract

Cuttlefish belong to the class Cephalopoda and their muscle tissue, skin, cuttlebone, and ink showed different therapeutic effects such as significant antioxidative ones. Given that free radicals are the cause of several degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, Cancer, Alzheimer, etc., use of different cuttlefish`s tissues for their antioxidative properties has seriously attracted the attention and can be helpful in improving the disease therapy process. This study was aimed at measuring antioxidative effects of <i>Sepia pharaonis </i>using ABTS, FRAP, DPPH, and Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging methods. The IC₅₀s of pepsin hydrolysate of <i>S. pharaonis</i> in DPPH were 3.07, 1.68, 3.67, and 129.38 (mg/ml), in DPPH, non-site Hydroxyl radical scavenging, site Hydroxyl radical scavenging and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging assays, respectively. EC₁ in FRAP assay was 21.75 (mg/ml).Results indicated that pepsin extract of <i>S. pharaonis</i> has antioxidant effects. This effect can be a result of the protien exsisted in cuttlfish tissue, mechanism of direct radical scavenging activity, or absorbtion of heavy metals.