This study was performed in order to investigate the functional components of 5 kinds of marine algae. We have collected 5 samples of marine algae, such as the sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), sea tangle (Laminaria iaponice), sea weed fusiforme (Hizikia fusiforme), green laver (Entetomotpha), laver (Phophyratenera), which have been harvested in Jeollanam-do. In order to examine the functional effects, 5 kinds of marine algae were extracted with hot water (80℃, 4 hr), ethanol and methanol (R.T., 4 hr), and subcritical water extract (SWE, 3 MPa, 90℃, 150℃, 210℃). A higher yield of extract was obtained through SWE method (3 MPa, 210℃) in all of the samples obtained. The highest total sugar content was 427.4 mg/g in green laver extracted with SWE (3 MPa, 210℃). The content of the SWE total phenolic compounds was higher than that of the water and solvent (methanol, ethanol) extracts. The anti-oxidative activities of the extracts from 5 kinds of marine algae were examined through the DPPH radical scavenging activity test. The SWE (3 MPa, 150℃ and 210℃) of the marine algae was the highest among all of the extracts. As per the results, the SWE of the marine algae contained more functional components and it had a higher antioxidant activity than those of the other extracts. The IC50 value of tyrosinase in seaweed fusiforme and laver were higher than those of the other samples. These results strongly support the possible use of marine algae as functional materials.Key words:marine algae, subcritical water extract, functional components, antioxidative activity 서 론