Extraction and estimation of iodine from brown seaweeds, of Karachi coast, Pakistan

Iodine is not only essential for thyroid function, but it is also beneficial for other organs of the body for example, prostate gland tissue, pancreas, gall bladder, kidneys, adrenals and even the liver. Brown seaweeds extracts are very rich in sea minerals with the supreme amount of iodine. In the present study, iodine was extracted from 6 different brown seaweeds representing three classes: Colpomenia sinuosa and Iyengaria stellata of class Laminarophyceae, Sargassum spp. of class Fucaceae, Padina pavonica and Spatoglossum variabile of class Dictyotaceae. The samples of Brown Seaweeds were collected from Buleji and Manora Rocky Ledges of Karachi coast. The level of iodine was measured in the range of 500ppm to 1000ppm by applying classical procedure. The maximum level was recorded in Sargassum carpophyllum and S. tenerrimum whereas the minimum was found in Padina pavonica.