A Systematic Review on Marine Algae-Derived Fucoxanthin: An Update of Pharmacological Insights

Abstract

Fucoxanthin, belonging to the xanthophyll class of carotenoids, is a natural antioxidant pigment of marine algae, including brown macroalgae and diatoms. It represents 10% of the total carotenoids in nature. The plethora of scientific evidence supports the potential benefits of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical uses of fucoxanthin for boosting human health and disease management. Due to its unique chemical structure and action as a single compound with multi-targets of health effects, it has attracted mounting attention from the scientific community, resulting in an escalated number of scientific publications from January 2017 to February 2022. Fucoxanthin has remained the most popular option for anti-cancer and anti-tumor activity, followed by protection against inflammatory, oxidative stress-related, nervous system, obesity, hepatic, diabetic, kidney, cardiac, skin, respiratory and microbial diseases, in a variety of model systems. Despite much pharmacological evidence from in vitro and in vivo findings, fucoxanthin in clinical research is still not satisfactory, because only one clinical study on obesity management was reported in the last five years. Additionally, pharmacokinetics, safety, toxicity, functional stability, and clinical perspective of fucoxanthin are substantially addressed. Nevertheless, fucoxanthin and its derivatives are shown to be safe, non-toxic, and readily available upon administration. This review will provide pharmacological insights into fucoxanthin, underlying the diverse molecular mechanisms of health benefits. However, it requires more activity-oriented translational research in humans before it can be used as a multi-target drug.

Fucoxanthin Production of Microalgae under Different Culture Factors: A Systematic Review

“…A systematic review could minimise the bias efficiently and increase the conclusion validity of the individual studies. However, only a handful of reviews focused on fucoxanthin using a systematic approach [ 10 , 11 ]. Mohibbullah et al systematically reviewed the pharmacological properties of fucoxanthin and its molecular mechanism for health benefits [ 10 ].…”

“…However, only a handful of reviews focused on fucoxanthin using a systematic approach [ 10 , 11 ]. Mohibbullah et al systematically reviewed the pharmacological properties of fucoxanthin and its molecular mechanism for health benefits [ 10 ]. In another study, a meta-analysis was performed to examine the effect of the algae subtype and extraction condition on fucoxanthin antioxidant properties [ 11 ].…”

Preparation of Fucoxanthin Nanoemulsion Stabilized by Natural Emulsifiers: Fucoidan, Sodium Caseinate, and Gum Arabic

“…Fucoxanthin metabolism is accompanied by hydrolysis to fucoxanthinol by digestive enzymes, lipase, and cholesterol esterase in the gastrointestinal tract and then converted to amarociaxanthin A in the liver [ 52 ]. To investigate the in vitro release of fucoxanthin, the samples prepared with 2% emulsifiers were chosen to be submitted to gastrointestinal conditions.…”

Paramylon and Other Bioactive Molecules in Micro and Macroalgae

“…There has been much interest in the role of carotenoids in human and animal health, especially for their antioxidant activity in attenuating oxidative damage and preventing damage to lipid bilayers. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid commonly distributed in brown algae, such as Undaria pinnatifida , Scytosiphon lomentaria , Petalonia binghamiae , and Laminaria religiosa , and microalgae, such as phaeodactylum tricornutum, is a potent drug candidate and can be utilized as an excellent supplement (e.g., astaxanthin) since it acts as an antioxidant and inhibits neuroblastoma and colon cancer cells [ 25 ]. Other macroalgae contain siphonoxanthin ( Codium fragile ), lutein ( Porphyra tenera ), and zeaxanthin ( Ascophyllum nodosum ) [ 16 ].…”