Algal Phycocolloids: Bioactivities and Pharmaceutical Applications

Abstract

Seaweeds are abundant sources of diverse bioactive compounds with various properties and mechanisms of action. These compounds offer protective effects, high nutritional value, and numerous health benefits. Seaweeds are versatile natural sources of metabolites applicable in the production of healthy food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and fertilizers. Their biological compounds make them promising sources for biotechnological applications. In nature, hydrocolloids are substances which form a gel in the presence of water. They are employed as gelling agents in food, coatings and dressings in pharmaceuticals, stabilizers in biotechnology, and ingredients in cosmetics. Seaweed hydrocolloids are identified in carrageenan, alginate, and agar. Carrageenan has gained significant attention in pharmaceutical formulations and exhibits diverse pharmaceutical properties. Incorporating carrageenan and natural polymers such as chitosan, starch, cellulose, chitin, and alginate. It holds promise for creating biodegradable materials with biomedical applications. Alginate, a natural polysaccharide, is highly valued for wound dressings due to its unique characteristics, including low toxicity, biodegradability, hydrogel formation, prevention of bacterial infections, and maintenance of a moist environment. Agar is widely used in the biomedical field. This review focuses on analysing the therapeutic applications of carrageenan, alginate, and agar based on research highlighting their potential in developing innovative drug delivery systems using seaweed phycocolloids.

Identification and statistical optimization of a novel alginate polymer extracted from newly isolated Synechocystis algini MNE ON864447 with antibacterial activity

“…Alginate G5-H2 moieties of L-guluronic acid in homopolymeric blocks are attributed to the detected signal between 4.2 and 5.1 ppm [ 62 ]. A resonance below 3.2 ppm, a property of proteins and lipids, as well as acetyl and succinyl groups, was also detected in the spectrum fraction of cyanobacterial alginate [ 63 , 64 ]. These broad bands at 4.7 ppm, 3.4 ppm, 3.08 ppm, and 5.1 ppm are confirmed to be strongly predictive of the presence of the G and M blocks of alginate in our documentary.…”

Algae-Derived Natural Products in Diabetes and Its Complications—Current Advances and Future Prospects

“…The diverse chemical constituents and multifaceted pharmacological activities of algae make them attractive sources of bioactive compounds with potential antidiabetic properties. Throughout this review article, we have highlighted the significance of natural products and their derivatives in diabetes management, specifically focusing on algae-derived compounds [ 31 , 168 ].…”

Red Algae Compounds: Potential Neuroprotective Agents for Neurodegenerative Disorders

“…Agar and carrageenans are critical polysaccharides found in red seaweeds, contributing not only to the structural integrity of the algae but also possessing valuable properties for applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology [19]. For instance, the gel-forming ability of these polysaccharides makes them desirable in the food industry for their textural and stabilizing properties, in addition to their enormous potential in the pharmaceutical industry [50].…”