Argentine squid (Illex argentinus): A source of mycosporine-like amino acids with antioxidant properties.

Here we report on the occurrence of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in the Argentine shortfin squid, Illex argentinus, the second fishery resource mostly exploited in the Argentinean continental shelf. The total content of four MAAs was evaluated by reverse-phase-HPLC in different tissues (eyes, skin, liver, and gonads). Also, the antioxidant activity of crude extracts was assessed by in-vitro determinations: 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Folin-Ciocalteu, and ferrous ion-chelating capacity assays. The content of MAAs was found to be almost ten times higher in female gonads than in other tissues (11,89 ± 0,56 mg/g dry weight). Extracts from skin, female gonads and eyes, exhibit higher antioxidant activity than the reference compounds ascorbic acid and TROLOX. Overall, Argentine squid waste is a promising potential source of MAAs with antioxidant and UV photoprotective properties, which could bear interest in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, thus encouraging maximal and sustainable use of fishing resources.