Marine Bioactive Compounds Derived from Macroalgae as New Potential Players in Drug Delivery Systems: A Review

Abstract

The marine algal ecosystem is characterized by a rich ecological biodiversity and can be considered as an unexploited resource for the discovery and isolation of novel bioactive compounds. In recent years, marine macroalgae have begun to be explored for their valuable composition in bioactive compounds and opportunity to obtain different nutraceuticals. In comparison with their terrestrial counterparts, Black Sea macroalgae are potentially good sources of bioactive compounds with specific and unique biological activities, insufficiently used. Macroalgae present in different marine environments contain several biologically active metabolites, including polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols, proteins polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. As a result, they have received huge interest given their promising potentialities in supporting antitumoral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective properties. An additional advantage of ulvans, fucoidans and carrageenans is the biocompatibility and limited or no toxicity. This therapeutic potential is a great natural treasure to be exploited for the development of novel drug delivery systems in both preventive and therapeutic approaches. This overview aims to provide an insight into current knowledge focused on specific bioactive compounds, which represent each class of macroalgae e.g., ulvans, fucoidans and carrageenans, respectively, as valuable potential players in the development of innovative drug delivery systems.

Pro-Apoptotic Activity of Bioactive Compounds from Seaweeds: Promising Sources for Developing Novel Anticancer Drugs

“…Carrageenans ( Q ) are sulfated polysaccharides present in red algae. They are linear anionic compounds due to the content of 15–40% ester-sulfate, hydrophilic, high molecular weight constituted from alternative units of D-galactopyranose and 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose, bound to α-1.3 and β-1,4-glucosidic bonds [ 111 ]. Sulfated polysaccharides isolated from red algae possess antiproliferative and antitumor characteristics.…”

“…Its structure and composition depend on the species and biotic and abiotic factors. However, it generally comprises sulfate groups linked to repetitive L-fucose units and different ratios of D-galactose, D-mannose, D-xylose, and uronic acid [ 111 ]. Fucoidan possesses anticancer activities, and its bioactivity depends on its constituent monosaccharides [ 113 ].…”

“…Different studies have shown that low molecular weight sulfated polysaccharides (SP) have better antioxidant activity than high molecular weight SPs. These SPs from seaweed are essential free radical scavengers [ 111 ]. The effect of laminarin on different colorectal carcinoma cell lines (LoVo, ES2, and OV90) has been studied.…”

Relevance of the Extraction Stage on the Anti-Inflammatory Action of Fucoidans

“…Nonetheless, long-term therapy with any of these drugs could have side effects which could worsen the health of the patient [ 60 , 61 , 62 ]. In this regard, the therapeutic use of natural biomolecules, like fucoidans, have gained a great interest as an alternative and complementary therapy for the treatment of different diseases characterized by chronic inflammation, on the basis of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties among others ( Figure 2 ) [ 34 , 63 ].…”

“… Disease conditions associated with chronic inflammation where protective effects of fucoidans have been observed [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. …”