# GC- and UHPLC-MS Profiles as a Tool to Valorize the Red Alga Asparagopsis armata+
## 3 Results and Discussion
### Biological Activities of Asparagopsis armata Extracts  
Considering the potential application of _A. armata_ extracts in the cosmetic industry, the dichloromethane extract (extract A) and the aqueous extract (extract **2**), which are in our perspective the most interesting ones, were evaluated for their potential as anti-aging agents. In fact, if we consider some green chemistry aspects, such as extraction yields and energy consumption, these extracts are the best option. Moreover, their chemical profile characterization was achieved.  
In this regard, the antioxidant, antiacetylcholinesteraseterase, and antibutyrylcolinesterase activities of extract A were evaluated. Regarding the antioxidant activity, this extract demonstrated an interesting ability to scavenge both the DPPH and ABTS radicals (23.6 \(\pm\) 2.6%  
Figure 1: UHPLC chromatograms of _greater A. armata_ polar extract with higher yield, recorded at 280 nm.  
and 31.4 \(\pm\) 2.8%, respectively), if we compare with the positive control values (Trolox-inhibition of DPPH 89.7 \(\pm\) 0.5% and inhibition of ABTS 92.4 \(\pm\) 0.2%). However, these values were obtained at concentrations of 250 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL, and it was not possible to calculate EC\({}_{50}\) value for extract A. Concerning the cholinesterase's inhibition, the extract A showed, at a concentration of 150 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL, inhibition values of 17.1 \(\pm\) 2.3% and 18.9 \(\pm\) 2.0%, respectively for acetylcholinesteraseinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase's. Again, it is imperative to highlight that it was impossible to obtain the EC\({}_{50}\) and the positive control value for donepezil at a concentration of 2 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL was 95.2 \(\pm\) 0.4%.  
Regarding the extract **2** biological assays, we evaluated the ferric chelating ability, the antioxidant, anticollagenase, and antielastase activities. All the activities were evaluated using 250 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL extract concentration, and the EC\({}_{50}\) could not be obtained. The extract ability to scavenge the DPPH radical and to chelate iron(III) can be considered low and moderate, with percentage inhibition values of 1.47 \(\pm\) 0.42% and 7.75 \(\pm\) 0.44%, respectively for DPPH (trolox 89.71 \(\pm\) 0.50%, concentration of 250 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL) and ferric chelating (EDTA 93.73 \(\pm\) 0.24%, concentration of 100 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL) assays. In the case of anticollagenase, the same extract showed an inhibition percentage of 7.42 \(\pm\) 1.79%, which was much lower than the value for positive control EDTA (96.31 \(\pm\) 1.20%). Finally, the extract inhibited elastase by 43.20 \(\pm\) 2.58% at a 250 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL concentration, an interesting value, although not comparable to the positive control, \(N\)-methoxy succinil-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-chloromethyl ketone which at a 20 \(\mathrm{\SIUnitSymbolMicro g}\)/mL inhibited the enzyme by 95.51 \(\pm\) 3.96%.  
Although the results of the bioassays were not exceptional, it is possible to conclude that _A. armata_ produce bioactive metabolites, and we can infer that their isolation will improve the activity.