In Thailand, Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh is cultured as a commercial endeavor due to its
high rate of growth and its nutrient and antioxidant contents. Of particular interest is the correlation
between growth rate in pond culture and the resulting chemical products, such as total phenolic, and
antioxidant activity. Samples were randomly collected from ponds once a month from April to June
2017. Morphological features, including dry weight, moisture content and numbers of fronds and
branches were measured. Ethanol extraction was used to determine the total phenolic content and
antioxidant activity. The results showed that dry weight was highest in April, hence marked the peak
of the growth period, and was correlated to the number of fronds and branches. The percentage yield
of extracts (16-17%) was not different among months, while phenol content and antioxidant activity
showed slight differences among months. The highest phenol content was found in June (73±2.08 mg
gallic acid equivalentg-1 DW), while highest antioxidant activity was found in May (29.51±0.78%).
The chemical content varied depending on physical environmental factors other than growth. These
findings help us to understand the optimal conditions for growth and harvest of seaweed for chemical
production and its potential for a variety of applications.