STUDY OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF CERTAIN BROWN MARINE ALGAE AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY ON INSECTS

Abstract

The present work aims to evaluate the phytochemical, nutritional and biological values of the brown alga Sargassum dentifolium (Agardh) This alga represents one of the brown alga found at the Egyptian Mediterranean shores in Alexandria .

This work includes:

I. Literature survey on Sargassum species concerning their different phytoconstituents, bioactivities and insecticidal and antifeeding activities.

II. Taxonomy of the genus Sargassum and family Sargassaceae as well as its distribution, thallus structure and reproduction.

III. Phytochemical study of Sargassum dentifolium .The following points summarize the results of this study:

1- A preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of sublimable constituents,volatiles, glycosides and I or carbohydrates, sterols and I or triterpenes The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed also the absence of free and combined flavonoides, alkaloides and I or nitrogenous base, saponins and free and I or combined anthraquinones. These are important for the identification of the thalli under investigation.