A group of researchers captured the second Best Research Paper award in the National Agriculture Resources Research and Development Symposium (NARRDS) of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) held Jan. 27-28 at the PCAMRD Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

The paper entitled “In vitro antioxidant activity of Hydroclathus clathratus Howe Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyceae” presented by the lead researcher, Dr. Zenaida M. Agngarayngay and accompanied by her co-researcher, Prof. Elma B. Santos, competed with other papers from five zonal centers in the country which had one entry each during the symposium. 

Earlier, the said paper bagged the Zonal Best Research Paper award during the Northern Luzon R&D Symposium and Roadmapping Workshop held in December 2010 in Iba, Zambales which advanced it to the national competition.  Other researchers are: Ms. Ana Fe C. Llaguno and Ms. Revelyn L. Pacol.

The paper expounds the potentials of Hydroclathus clathratus, a brown algae called “balballulang” by Ilocanos.  In their research, the team observed that the algae has free radical chain  formation mechanism as indicated by the lightening of color of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazal radical (DPPH) when mixed with “balballulang” extract.  This means, according to the researchers, that the extract has an antioxidant property.  The algae, Dr. Agngarayngay said, could be a promising source of natural antioxidant to substitute synthetic ones available in the market which are hazardous to health.  Antioxidants are commonly used as food preservatives.

Dr. Agngarayngay and Prof. Santos received a plaque of appreciation and P20,000 cash from DOST Undersecretary Carol M. Yorobe, AGHAM Partylist Representative Angelo B. Palmones, and PCAMRD OIC-Executive Director Cesario R. Pagdilao during the awarding ceremony, Jan. 28.  The theme of the symposium was: “Igniting innovation towards technology commercialization.”