Identification of chlorophyll molecules with peroxyl radical scavenger capacity in microalgae Phormidium autumnale using ultrasound-assisted extraction

•Industrial wastes were used to Phormidium autumnale microalgae production.•The characterization of chlorophyll molecules of the microalgae is reported.•A total of eleven chlorophylls were separated and seven identified.•The peroxyl radical scavenging capacity of chlorophyll extract was assessed.•The microalgae is a potential source of bioactive chlorophylls.

The identification of chlorophyll molecules with peroxyl radical scavenger capacity in microalgae Phormidium autumnale was determined. The ultrasound-assisted extraction was utilized for obtaining the chlorophyll compounds from biomass. A total of eleven molecules were separated in microalgae chlorophyll extract, with pheophytin a′ (371 μg·g− 1) and chlorophyll a (159.3 μg·g− 1) as the major ones. The chlorophyll extract was shown to be a potent scavenger of peroxyl radical, being almost 200 times more potent than α-tocopherol. These facts suggest the microalgae Phormidium autumnale as potential source of bioactive tetrapyrrole compounds.