Effect of air drying temperature on phytochemical properties of brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of convective air-drying at different temperatures (35, 50, 60 and 75°C) on the color of Bifurcaria bifurcata (BB) seaweed powders obtained after milling, the antioxidant activity and polyphenolic and carbohydrate content of the aqueous extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction. BB seaweed powders exhibited significant color differences between powders obtained from BB dried at 35ºC (yellowish-green) and 50–75 °C (brown). High air drying temperature (above 60ºC) significantly reduced the total polyphenolic, carbohydrate content and scavenging activity of aqueous extracts of BB. Keywords: Phaeophyceae Antioxidant activity Carbohydrates Color Polyphenols