Las algas han sido utilizadas desde tiempos remotos como alimento principalmente por países asiáticos. Son usadas en la actualidad en muchos otros países como fertilizantes, biocombustibles, fuentes de hidrocoloides entre otras aplicaciones. Su alto contenido de proteínas, lípidos poliinsaturados, fibra dietética, vitaminas y minerales las hacen una fuente atractiva de alimentos funcionales. También poseen sustancias con valor nutracéutico, como los compuestos fenólicos y las clorofilas. En Cuba se evidencia la existencia de ellas en la plataforma insular incluidas las zonas costeras y las bahías. Sin embargo, hasta el presente no existen suplementos nutricionales ni productos farmacéuticos en el mercado nacional elaborados a partir de las macroalgas. La calidad nutritiva de algas marinas junto al alto contenido de compuestos bioactivos con propiedades beneficiosas para la salud, constituyen dos razones importantes para fundamentar su consumo. Además, las algas poseen en su composición, polisacáridos que permiten su incorporación en alimentos cárnicos y en pastas, manteniendo o mejorando su calidad sensorial, nutritiva y saludable. ABSTRACTSince ancient times, algae have been used as a food source fundamentally by Asian countries. They are employed in our times as fertilizer, biogas, in hydrocolloids’ industry and others. Its composition in high quality proteins, polyunsatured lipids, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals are determinants to declare algae as an attractive functional food. Furthermore, algae have nutraceutical substances, including phenols and chlorophylls. In Cuba, they are present in all Cuban seashore and harbors. However, no macroalgae’s nutritional supplements or pharmaceutic products in the Cuban market exist. The nutritional quality of seaweed alongside the high content of bioactive compounds with beneficial health properties, constitute two important reasons to increase consumption. Moreover, algae have in their composition protein structures that allows its incorporation into of meat and pasta foods, maintaining or improving their sensory, nutritious and healthy quality.

Antioxidant effect and polyphenol content of Syringodium filiforme (Cymodoceaceae). The marine phanerogam Syringodium filiforme, known as "manatee grass", is a common species that grows in coastal areas associated to Thalassia testudinum. With the aim to describe some of its possible chemical characteristics, this study was performed with a sample of 1.2kg, collected in March 2009, in Guanabo beach, Havana, Cuba. The sample was dried (less than 12% humidity) and a total extract prepared; other three extracts were prepared with the use of solvents of increasing polarity. The phytochemical screening and analytical determinations of each fraction were undertaken Total polyphenol content was determined using pyrogallol as reference´s standard; chlorophyll a and b and anthocyanin content were also quantified. Total extract and fractions antioxidant activity were evaluated by using the free radical scavenging activity assay with 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl reactive (knowing as DPPH´s method). The phytochemical screening of the different extracts detected the presence of high concentrations of flavonoids, phenols, terpenes, antocyaninns, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The total extract and methanol fraction showed significant free radical scavenging properties, while the petroleum ether fraction showed moderate activity, and the chloroform fraction and the aqueous soluble precipitate (residual salt) obtained didn't show antioxidant properties against free radicals. The results of this work confirmed the potentialities of this species for biological purposes. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (1): 465-472. Epub 2011 March 01.

Syringodium filiforme Kützing (Cymodoceaceae) is a marine seagrass abundant in Caribbean Sea, rich in phenolic compounds which have antioxidant properties and can provide new opportunities for treatment and prevention of diseases mediated by ultraviolet radiation like photoaging and skin cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile and the photoprotective potential of S. filiforme leaf extracts . Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 72.85 ± 0.72 mg pyrogallol equivalents/g dry extract (PE) and 59.09 ± 0.45 mg quercetin equivalents/g dry extract (QE), respectively. The total anthocyanins content was 1.35 ± 0.02 mg malvidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents/g dry extract (ME). The extract showed photoprotector potential in the UVB region. The S. filiforme treated mice showed a significantly decreased wrinkling score, and a reorganization of the collagen fiber was observed compared with irradiated and not treated skin. These results suggest that the crude extract of S. filiforme leaves may be a promising natural sunscreen product.

Thalassia testudinum es la planta marina de mayor abundancia en el litoral de La Habana y del Caribe en general, conocida comúnmente como praderas submarinas o hierba de tortuga. Entre los compuestos de interés que se pueden encontrar en esta especie sobresalen los polifenoles, los cuales son componentes estructurales de su pared celular y poseen propiedades funcionales y bioactivas como antioxidante, anti-inflamatorio, neuroprotector y hepatoprotector. Investigaciones previas evaluaron diversos métodos de extracción de compuestos bioactivos para esta especie, por lo que este trabajo tuvo como objetivo optimizar las condiciones de extracción del contenido de polifenoles totales. Para ello se utilizó el método de Box y Hunter y se evaluó el efecto de tres factores influyentes en la extracción de compuestos fenólicos (velocidad de agitación, relación material vegetal/% alcohol y concentración de etanol). Como variable respuesta se empleó el contenido de polifenoles totales determinada por el método de Folin-Ciocalteu. Los resultados del diseño proporcionaron como condiciones óptimas en las variables estudiadas las siguientes: 1/11.5 p:v, 60% de EtOH y 800 r.p.m., alcanzando rendimiento de polifenoles totales, igual a 25.60 mg/g de extracto seco; superior a las restantes condiciones de extracción para un extracto bioactivo con potencialidades de uso en la industria farmacéutica o nutracéutica.