Edible Seaweeds as Potential Source of Nutraceuticals

Abstract

Edible seaweeds—superfoods of our waterways—are algae, botanically classified majorly into green (Chlorophyta), brown (Phaeophyta) and red (Rhodophyta) groups. They are a rich source of protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals as well as polyphenols, peptides, sterols, PUFA, etc. Seaweeds are a major part of the diet of Southeast Asian countries as well as in parts of Europe, America and Australia. Apart from being a major nutrition source in the human diet, traditional Chinese medicine approves of edible seaweeds having medicinal properties. In recent times, edible algae are being marketed as a rich source of nutraceuticals for their bioactive properties. It has been established that bioactive compounds have a major therapeutic role in the management of a number of human metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, etc. Researchers are trying to discover newer bioactive molecules from different sources. Marine life constitutes around 80% of the world biota and edible algae is a major marine flora that can be explored to derive many bioactive compounds and other secondary metabolites for therapeutic applications through optimized harvesting, extraction and recovery for active molecules. The algal bioactive molecules have been widely reviewed to possess antiparasitic, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Thus, opens a vast scope for utilization of bioactive compounds from edible seaweeds for development of nutraceuticals.