Antioxidant activity of a halogenated monoterpene isolated from a Namibian marine algal species.

The antioxidant potential of various marine natural products is well documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of a rare halogenated monoterpene, namely; 1,3,4,5,7-1-bromo-3,4,8-trichloro-7-(dichloromethyl)-3-methylocta-1,5,7-triene () for the first time. This compound was isolated from a Namibian red algal species. The antioxidant activity of the compound was evaluated using a series of antioxidant assays, namely; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH), reducing power, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (HO). The compound demonstrated remarkable DPPH, NO and HO scavenging activities with IC values of 0.05 ± 0.01, 4.18 ± 0.22 and 5.58 ± 1.11 mM, respectively. The reducing power of the compound increased with an increase in concentration. These results were compared to the absorbance of ascorbic acid, which was used as a standard control in all the antioxidant assays. The results strongly suggest that compound is a promising antioxidant agent with potential commercial applications.