Antioxidant potential phytochemicals from methanol extract of Chlorella vulgaris and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Microalgae are indigenous source of phytochemicals potent of being used in medicinal applications and in numerous natural health products but the research reports on their phytochemicals are of less count than on seaweeds. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the metabolites in the growth phase of Chlorella vulgaris and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and to determine the phytochemicals present in methanol extract. Cell density, pigments, protein, carbohydrate, lipid, flavonoid and phenols during the growth phase of microalgae was quantified and the algal cells were extracted for phytochemical analysis using methanol. The results from preliminary phytochemical tests, thin layer chromatographs, and antioxidant assays suggested these two microalgae to be potential natural antioxidant source in food supplements and pharmaceutical industries.