Fucoxanthin as the major antioxidant in Hijikia fusiformis, a common edible seaweed

The radical scavenging activity of Japanese edible seaweeds was screened by the DPPH (1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay to evaluate the DPPH radical scavenging activity in organic extracts. The fresh brown alga Hijikia fusif ormis showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity, followed by Un daria pinnatifida and Sargassum fulvellum. The major active compound from H ijikia fusiformis in its acetone extract was identified as fucoxanthin by C -13-NMR spectroscopy.