Brief Overview of Bioactive Compounds in Seaweeds, Their Properties and Practical Applications in Functional Foods

Abstract

Seaweeds are a rich source of bioactive compounds as discovered by many research studies in recent history. Even though there are numerous methods to generate certain bioactive compounds from chemical modifications, advantages of extracting them from natural seaweeds have exceeded the artificial synthesis. However, practical applications of seaweeds are mainly observed to pharmaceutical industry, drug development and functional foods so far. This is due to the bioactive properties such as antiviral, antitumor, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antilipidemic beneficial for such industries. Functional food market has also indicated a steady growth due to the health-conscious consumption pattern of the people creating even more demand on seaweeds. Most of the countries surrounded by coastal regions have indicated a growth of research on seaweeds in order to utilize them as biofuel. Idea behind this review is to provide a brief but a comprehensive understanding of metabolites, bioactive properties and applications of seaweeds.

Seaweed as a Source of Natural Antioxidants: Therapeutic Activity and Food Applications

“…Bioactive compounds present in seaweeds could prevent hyperlipidemic and hypercholesterolemic effects. e hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic response is produced by increasing faecal cholesterol content and by lowering of systolic blood pressure, respectively [110]. Alginates, a sulphated polysaccharide (molecular weight ≥50 kDa), and alginic acid produced from Laminaria sp.…”

“…Dietary fibres of seaweeds absorb substances like cholesterol and eliminate them from the digestive system, resulting in hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic response [37]. Ethanolic extracts of Caulerpa racemosa, Colpomenia sinuosa, Spatoglossum asperum, Iyengaria stellata, and Solieria robusta are responsible for hypolipidemic activities [110].…”

Seaweed-Based Molecules and Their Potential Biological Activities: An Eco-Sustainable Cosmetics

“…Hence, the goal is to reduce and remove these undesired effects by using natural resources as an alternative in cosmetic formulations to meet consumer demands. Natural resources offer many more advantages, as they are environmentally friendly, are less toxic, are non-carcinogenic, are easily accessible, have lesser side effects, and are economically beneficial [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. These include terrestrial plants, animals, and heterogeneous groups in the oceans, etc., with their richness as a source of biologically active principles [ 26 ].…”