Promising Seaweeds against Human Viruses: A Review

Abstract

Rana et al.: Seaweeds against Human VirusesSeaweeds due to their immense applications in food, agriculture, cosmetics, textile, biomedical and pharmaceutical sector have become inordinate candidates for research. Over the past few decades, research has been focused on algae-driven metabolites such as carrageenan, galactan, laminarin, fucoidan, lectins, phenols and alginate for their diverse applications. Marine algae are constantly being researched for their activity against various human pathogens to establish a permanent alternate therapy with antiviral implications as the main area of focus. In this review, attempts have been made to systematize the anti-viral research of various seaweed-derived compounds and the mechanism of their action against human viruses which would help develop natural antiviral drugs against life-threatening human viruses.