Bioactivity and Applications of Sulphated Polysaccharides from Marine Microalgae

Abstract

Marine microalgae have been used for a long time as food for humans, such as Arthrospira (formerly, Spirulina), and for animals in aquaculture. The biomass of these microalgae and the compounds they produce have been shown to possess several biological applications with numerous health benefits. The present review puts up-to-date the research on the biological activities and applications of polysaccharides, active biocompounds synthesized by marine unicellular algae, which are, most of the times, released into the surrounding medium (exo- or extracellular polysaccharides, EPS). It goes through the most studied activities of sulphated polysaccharides (sPS) or their derivatives, but also highlights lesser known applications as hypolipidaemic or hypoglycaemic, or as biolubricant agents and drag-reducers. Therefore, the great potentials of sPS from marine microalgae to be used as nutraceuticals, therapeutic agents, cosmetics, or in other areas, such as engineering, are approached in this review.

Anticoagulant Activity and Structural Characterization of Polysaccharide from Abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) Gonad

“…In the meantime, the ever-increasing demand for antithrombotic therapy calls for alternative sources of anticoagulant and antithrombotic compounds [8]. It has been shown that sulfated polysaccharides with anticoagulant activity are most abundant in marine invertebrates and marine algae [9,10]. Hence, abalone gonads could eventually become a valuable source of polysaccharides with anticoagulant properties.…”

“…This result suggested that both the molecular weight and degree of sulfation have essential influences on the anticoagulant activity of polysaccharides. Furthermore, the anticoagulant properties of the polysaccharides do not depend only on the percentage of sulphate residues, but rather, mostly on the distribution or position of sulphate groups and probably on the configuration of the polymer chains [9].…”

“…This result suggested that both the molecular weight and degree of sulfation have essential influences on the anticoagulant activity of polysaccharides. Furthermore, the anticoagulant properties of the polysaccharides do not depend only on the percentage of sulphate residues, but rather, mostly on the distribution or position of sulphate groups and probably on the configuration of the polymer chains [9]. Previous studies indicated that there are many factors that affect the biological activity of polysaccharides, not only the structure, the configuration of the polymer molecules, the concentration of sulfate [9,10], molecular weight and branching structures [17], but also the position of sulfate groups, since the interaction of sulfated polysaccharides with coagulation cofactors and their target protease are specific [18].…”

Microalgae biorefineries: applications and emerging technologies

“…In the majority of microalgae species, depending on the culture conditions, the synthesized polysaccharides are heteropolymers composed mainly of a combination of sugars such as glucose, xylose and galactose, among others. [132]. For this reason, there is a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds with different molecular weights, ionic charges and properties that can have a high value application in various industries such as mechanical engineering, food or biomedicine.…”

“…accumulate EPA, but their commercial production is still not very consolidated. The global market for PUFAs, especially DHA and EPA, is growing exponentially [132]. The consumption of DHA / EPA functional products, especially in regions such as North America, Europe and Asia, represented USD 25.4 billion in 2011 and USD 34.7 billion in 2016 [133].…”