Chapter 13 - Polysaccharides from macroalgae: chemical characterization, functional properties and biological activity

Abstract

Sulfated polysaccharides (PLS) are important cell wall components in marine macroalgae. They are made up of several monosaccharaides joined by glycosidic bonds, with sulfate and other groups in their structures. Their structural features offer interesting functional properties and hence serve as valuable additives in food processing, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and other applications. The algal PLS can be broadly grouped into sulfated and nonsulfated. Sulfated PLS are fucoidans, agar, carrageenans and ulvans. Sulfated PLS from seaweeds have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities such as anticoagulant, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulating, antihyperlipidemic, and antihepatotoxic. Due to their high biocompatibility, these sulfated PLS gain promising molecular status, since they have biological activities well evidenced in the literature. On account of that, we believe these sulfated PLS can be the target of research that generates commercially desired products, whether in the food, diet, cosmetic or pharmaceutical fields. Because they are compounds that are easily inserted in the diet and due to their functional characteristics, sulfated PLS from algae can be used in an industrial way for the manufacturing of products that can revolutionize the fields of food and preventive medicine.