Abstract
Nowadays, seaweeds are widely involved in biotechnological applications. Due to the variety of bioactive compounds in their composition, species of phylum Ochrophyta, class Phaeophyceae, phylum Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta are valuable for the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Seaweeds have been consumed as whole food since ancient times and used to treat several diseases, even though the mechanisms of action were unknown. During the last decades, research has demonstrated that those unique compounds express beneficial properties for human health. Each compound has peculiar properties (e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral activities, etc.) that can be exploited to enhance human health. Seaweed’s extracted polysaccharides are already involved in the pharmaceutical industry, with the aim of replacing synthetic compounds with components of natural origin. This review aims at a better understanding of the recent uses of algae in drug development, with the scope of replacing synthetic compounds and the multiple biotechnological applications that make up seaweed’s potential in industrial companies. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of action of seaweed’s compounds and to embrace the use of seaweeds in pharmaceutical companies and other applications, with the final scope being to produce sustainable and healthier products.
Highlights
Our planet is covered by 70% aquatic habitats, inhabited by a great variety of organisms
The potentiality of seaweed can vary depending on the type of algae, harvesting period and environmental conditions; every species has peculiar compounds that can act in different ways, exhibiting diverse properties
More accurate research has been conducted using as key words seaweed’s bioactive compounds involved in pharmaceutical trials, with a particular attention to pre-clinical trials performed during the last decade
Summary
Our planet is covered by 70% aquatic habitats, inhabited by a great variety of organisms. Seaweeds are a source of peculiar compounds with interesting properties that can be useful for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Due to their non-toxic, edible, cheap and easy culturing properties, macroalgae are optimal candidates for replacing synthetic compounds with those of natural origin. Agar and carrageenan are widely involved in the commercial food process industry due to their ability to act as stabilizers, emulsifiers and thickening agents. They are already used in gel-based food products such as desserts, jams, jellies and bakery products [3]. More accurate research has been conducted using as key words seaweed’s bioactive compounds involved in pharmaceutical trials (fucoxanthin, fucoidan, carrageenan, agar, phenols, ulvan, caulerpin), with a particular attention to pre-clinical trials performed during the last decade
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