2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity of the crude methanolic extract from the soft coral Sarcophyton flexuosum Tixier-Durivault was assayed. The crude methanolic extract of S. flexuosum collected from Lakshadweep Island showed significant potential in antioxidant activity. GC-MS analysis of the hexane and chloroform extracts of S. flexuosum revealed the presence of 27 compounds belonging to five major groups including esters, hydrocarbons, carbonyls, ethers, and alcohols. In these compounds, fatty acid esters were found to be the major chemical group, followed by hydrocarbons, ethers, carbonyls, and alcohols. Among the compounds identified, butyl butyrate, methyl palmitate, methyl (9E)-9-octadecenoate, propanoic acid butyl ester, undecane, 2-ethyl-hexan-1-ol and isosteviol were found to be pharmacologically important, based on their reported activity.

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