Comparative assessment of antioxidant potential of different body parts of the yellow seahorse, Hippocampus kuda (Bleeker, 1852): source of traditional medicine

Antioxidant potential of different body parts such as seahorse internal organs (SIO), skin with bones (SSB), bones (SB) and muscle tissues (SM) of cultured yellow seahorse, Hippocampus kuda was assessed in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), reducing power (RP), metal chelating activity (MCA), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRS) and lipid peroxidation assay (LPX). In general, relatively elevated levels of TPC and other measured antioxidant activities were recorded in extracts from SIO and SM. Extract prepared from SIO exhibited significantly higher levels of TPC, RP, DPPH scavenging activity and LPX inhibition, while MCA and HRS activities were significantly higher in SM and SSB, respectively (P < 0.05). A significant difference in TPC and antioxidant activities between different body parts of seahorse was discernible. The results of the study revealed that internal organs and muscle tissues contribute significantly to the antioxidant potential in the H. kuda. Results obtained in the present investigation suggest that TPC and other antioxidant activities are dependent upon biochemical composition of individual body parts.