Seaweeds as Source of Bioactive Substances and Skin Care Therapy—Cosmeceuticals, Algotheraphy, and Thalassotherapy

Abstract

Riverine, estuarine, and coastal populations have always used algae in the development of home remedies that were then used to treat diverse health problems. The empirical knowledge of various generations originated these applications, and their mechanism of action is, in most cases, unknown, that is, few more scientific studies would have been described beyond simple collection and ethnographic recording. Nevertheless, recent investigations, carried out with the purpose of analyzing the components and causes that alter the functioning and the balance of our organism, are already giving their first results. Water, and especially sea water is considered as essential to life on our planet. It sings all the substances necessary and conducive to the development of the living being (minerals, catalysts, vitamins, amino acids, etc.). Oceans cover over 70% of Earth, being home to up to 90% of the organisms in the planet. Many rich resources and unique environments are provided by the ocean. Additionally, bioactive compounds that multiple marine organisms have a great potential to produce can be used as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Both primary and secondary metabolites are produced by algae. The first ones are directly implicated in development, normal growth, or reproduction conditions to perform physiological functions. Stress conditions, like temperature changes, salinity, environmental pollutants, or UV radiation exposure cause the performance of secondary metabolites. In algae, proteins, polysaccharides, fatty acids, and amino acids are primary metabolites and phenolic compounds, pigments, vitamins, sterols, and other bioactive agents, all produced in algae tissues, are secondary metabolites. These algal active constituents have direct relevance in cosmetics.

A Comprehensive Review of the Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Red Seaweeds (Rhodophyta)

“…Proteins and amino acids synthesized by red seaweeds also have great pharmaceutical potential as they have been reported to have multiple bioactivities [70,[73][74][75][76][77][78][79]. Illustratively, pepsin, which digests from Pyropia yezoensis (formerly known as Porphyra yezoensis), has been reported to have an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory effect, anti-mutagenic, blood sugar reducing, calcium precipitation inhibition, decrease of cholesterol levels, antioxidant, and improved hepatic function activities [67].…”

“…The main function is to protect from dryness and physical aggression from biotic and abiotic factors, such as rough waters and waves [133]. The polysaccharides flow as a structural carbohydrate in the cell wall and in the intercellular spaces [76].…”

Advanced Technologies for the Extraction of Marine Brown Algal Polysaccharides

“…These compounds therefore provide high potential for the application of brown algae extracts in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, rheumatic processes, hypertension, goitre, asthma, ulcers, menstrual disorders, syphilis, skin diseases etc. [4,6,7]. The biological potential of brown algae is significantly contributed by polysaccharides as one of the most common and most important groups of bioactive compounds.…”

Seaweed Secondary Metabolites with Beneficial Health Effects: An Overview of Successes in In Vivo Studies and Clinical Trials

“…Drugs 2019, 17, x 2 of 36 halogenated compounds, sterols, terpenes, and small peptides, among other bioactive compounds [8][9][10][11]. Studies focusing on the preparation of macroalgae extracts and their chemical characterization revealed a large range of seaweed compounds with very interesting biological activities including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antivirus, antihypertensive, fat-lowering, and neuroprotective activities [12][13][14][15].…”

“…Regarding clinical trials, studies with pure algal metabolites are scarce, limited to those carried out with kahalalide F and fucoxanthin. The majority of clinical trials currently aim to ascertain the effect of algae consumption, as extracts or fractions, on obesity and diabetes.Studies focusing on the preparation of macroalgae extracts and their chemical characterization revealed a large range of seaweed compounds with very interesting biological activities including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antivirus, antihypertensive, fat-lowering, and neuroprotective activities [12][13][14][15].The large volume of studies proving the seaweed compound activities in in vitro systems [16][17][18][19] hints the need for further advancements in the knowledge about macroalgae compound efficiency in living systems (in vivo) and their use in the development of pharmaceuticals. In vitro studies are very relevant and yield very important information, but they only represent the first step of a long process, and the results obtained rarely reveal anything about the effects of a compound in vivo, because the responses observed in vitro can be magnified, diminished, or totally different in a more complex and integrated system.…”