Changes in phenolic compounds in seagrasses against changes in the ecosystem

Abstract

Phenolic compounds in plants plays important role in pigmentation, growth, reproduction, resistance against pathogens, defense mechanism as well as protecting plants from deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation and oxidants. Comparatively higher contents of phenolics and flavonoids were noticed in seagrasses from Palk Bay than Gulf of Mannar irrespective body parts. The leaves of C. serrulata contained phenolics ranging from 41 to 298 mg per 100g gallic acid equivalents and flavonoids 13 to 146 mg per 100g quercetin equivalents where as in the roots and rhizomes phenolics varied from 29 to 292 mg per 100g and flavonoids 9.1 to 75 mg per 100g. The tannins varied from 0.20 to 5.02 mg per 100g. Chlorophyl a, in seagrasses ranged from 115 to 850 µg per g, Chlorophyl b from 11 to 1029 µg per g and pheophytin from 41 to 204 µg per g. These results indicated variations in the phenolic compounds with reference to the ecosystem and the presence of other plants in the meadows.